Local influentials in Cox’s Bazar have taken illegal possession of government acquired lands in Chakaria and Pekua upazila on the two sides of the Cox’s Bazar-Chittagong regional highway, and set up makeshift shops and bazars.
In many areas, they have erected concrete structures and rented them out. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Cox’s Bazar confirmed the matter of land grabbing, and said it would undertake an eviction drive soon.
When the 18km ABC highway from Anwara to Chakaria was built in 2002-2003 by the then government, RHD acquired the lands within 120ft along the width of the road with Tk6 crore compensation.
The concerned natives of Pekua and Chakaria complained that as RHD did not put up pillars to demarcate the acquired lands, the landowners who were compensated got into a competition to illegally repossess the lands. They alleged that some RHD officials are also involved with the land grabbers and take monthly kickbacks. According to sources, in the 18km of Toitong, Pekua to Badarkhali, Chakaria, there are over 200 illegal structures. The grabbers have established three bazars and built concrete structures for those on the highway lands.
Cox’s Bazar RHD Executive Engineer Rana Priyo Barua confirmed the illegal land grabbing, and said: “The land grabbers have been instructed to remove all the illegal structures. Soon a magistrate will be appointed to evict them.”
