13 lakh acres govt land gobbled up
Posted: 05/02/2010 - 13:42
• Around 13 lakh acres of land has been grabbed across the country, two ministers told parliament yesterday.
Later, lawmakers demanded that the government take stern actions against the grabbers and recover the land.
Of the grabbed land, said Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira, 4.25 lakh acres are khas land--both farm and non-farm--3.74 lakh acres vested property, 1,231 acres abandoned property and 2.07 lakh acres are owned by government organisations.
Hasan Mahmud, state minister for environment and forest, said individuals and businesses together have encroached on around 2.85 lakh acres of forestland.
Both the ministers told the House that the government has taken various measures to recover the land. They however did not say how much has so far been retrieved.
In reply to AL lawmaker Mohammad Shah Alam's query, the land minister said they have directed the deputy commissioners to take steps to force the grabbers out of the land.
Answering a question from AL lawmaker Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, State Minister Hasan Mahmud said the government has taken up a programme of social forestation on the grabbed forestland.
“We are also taking legal proceedings against the industries built illegally on forestland,” he continued.
Besides, the process to designate some areas as reserved forests has been sped up to stop further grabbing.
Replying to ruling party lawmaker Rahmat Ali, the state minister said they are working on a project to develop “Bangabandhu Safari Park” on a 4,000-acre land in Gazipur to conserve wildlife. The project awaits government approval.
Speaking on a private-member resolution on steps to resolve housing problems for people on low incomes, several lawmakers had a go at the land grabbers.
They urged the government to recover the lands and distribute those among the landless.
AL lawmakers Israfil Alam and Nurul Islam Sujan and Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujib-ul-Haque Chunnu were among those who backed the private-member resolution, piloted by Apu Ukil.
In response to the resolution, State Minister for Housing Abdul Mannan Khan said his ministry has taken various measures to resolve housing crisis.
Those include expanding the capital, developing satellite cities and building over a lakh flats.
Source:The daily Star Bangladesh.
|