A local councilor of Mirpur allegedly built a playground on a plot that was allotted to 32 people some 26 years ago by the National Housing Authority.
The 11 katha land in Mirpur sector 11 Paris Road was under the “Dhaka Urban Infrastructure Improvement Program,” reports Bangla Tribune.
The allottees said that local Councilor Kazi Zahirul Islam Manik filled the low-lying land allocated to them in 1996 with sand and made it into a playground.
He also named it “Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Playground”, reports Bangla Tribune.
Before the National Housing Authority could assign the plot, some influential people of the area built a slum on the 11 katha land.
Later, a writ petition seeking rehabilitation was filed by the slum dwellers in 2002 when they were to be evicted. However, on January 10, 2013, the High Court dismissed their petition.
The National Housing Authority, headed by a first-class magistrate, removed the slum from the allotted plot and confirmed the owners' legal possession on June 26, 2016.
On August 21 of the same year, the High Court ruled in favor of the allottees.
However, a recent program broadcasted live from the councilor's Facebook page shows the low-lying land to be filled with sand. The video also showed hundreds of children playing on the playground.
Locals and allottees claimed that Kazi Zahirul Islam Manik is the mastermind behind the playground's construction.
An allottee, who wished anonymity, told Bangla Tribune that on September 29, Councilor Manik staged a strike with school children demanding a playground on the land.
He also manipulated Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam and declared to construct a playground on that land.
"After that day, DNCC trucks and vehicles hired by the councilor started filling the land with sand, defying the High Court orders. He also went live on Facebook during the procedure,” he added.
In this regard, Councilor Kazi Zahirul Islam Manik said: "I have not filled this land with sand - some 300,000 people of ward no 3 did, and they also did not take our permission.”
When asked about the Facebook live streams, the councilor said: “I am actually sick. The page is run by our younger brother Imran Talukder.”
Victims call for action
National Housing Authority filed a General Diary (GD) Pllabi police station to take legal action against those illegally involved with the plot.
The GD signed by Kawser Morshed, executive engineer of Mirpur Housing Division-2, said some people are filling the plot adjacent to Paris Road in Mirpur section 11 with sand without permission.
The land is allotted to 32 people of various classes and professions by the government, it added.
It is requested to take legal action against those involved in illegal encroachment of the land to protect government property, the GD reads.
Apart from the official, one Fatema Begum also filed a complaint with the same police station on behalf of the victims.
She mentioned in the GD that on September 18, the allottees were threatened by some locals when they went to the plot. For this reason, the allottees are not able to start their desired construction work.
In this regard, Pallabi police station Officer-in-Charge Tajul Islam said: “The land was allotted to 32 people but with time it got abandoned. Later, the local councilor informed DNCC mayor that people dumped trash on the land, causing dengue mosquitoes to breed there.”
After that the mayor instructed the councilor to clean the land, he added.
The OC also mentioned that Councilor Manik told him that there used to be a playground on the plot, where they played.
“He (councilor) said DNCC mayor also asked him to build a playground here. I have spoken to my superiors about the matter. They said that if a magistrate from the National Housing Authority wants to take possession of the land, the police will help them.”
