Grabbing passengers’ shed, which is located beside Lalmonirhat-Burimari Highway in Milon Bazar area of Barokhata union at Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat, some Awami League leaders allegedly built three shops there overnight under the very nose of district administration.
A group of local AL men, instructed by Abu Bakkar Siddique, grabbed the shed and built three shops there on Tuesday, local people alleged.
Earlier, the quarters tried to take possession of the shed on Monday night but their attempt have been failed due to local people’s protest. Then, the cadres of the ruling party assaulted a union parishad member as he protested against the encroachment.
At present, UP member Rafiqul Islam is undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, locals said. Shahinoor Rahman, Montesar Rahman, Ashraful Islam and other local people in Milon Bazar area said the passengers shed was built on two decimals of land spending Tk400,000 by the district council four years back.
Commuters not only wait for transport to go to their destination at the shed, but also local people take shelter there to save themselves from rain as well as storm.
The Barokhata union parishad chairman Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal said local people could not dare to protest further as the AL men have connection with high-ups of the administration.
He said he informed the matter to Hatibandha upazila Nirbahi Officer UNO immediately, but since then no steps have yet been taken over the issue.
Hatibandha UNO Golam Sarwar said he would take necessary steps soon to get the passengers’ shed out of encroachment.
If allegations brought against the local AL men are proved, district administration would take stern actions against them.
Abu Bakkar Siddique, however, denied the allegation saying that he has no involvement with the grabbing.
