According to locals, in Jatiar Bari, influential figures such as Masud Sheikh have constructed 13 shops, Shahadat Gharami 8 shops, Selim Gazi 1 shop, Delowar Hossain 1 shop, Hafiz Talukdar 1 shop, Aolad Hossain 3 shops, Farid Hossain 1 shop, Badal Gazi 1 shop, Jamal Gazi 1 shop, and Layek Molla 1 shop on government-owned embankment land.
Residents claim that these individuals, leveraging their local influence, have encroached upon public property to establish these businesses. They have called for authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. Similar allegations have been made regarding Bhangarhata, where influential groups have reportedly built commercial establishments on both sides of the embankment, further occupying government land.
Aolad Hossain, one of the alleged encroachers, admitted, “Some parts of my three shops are on embankment land. I will vacate the land whenever the government asks me to do so.”
Kotalipara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Masum Billah stated, “Recently, we conducted operations in Abdarhat, Ghagar Bazar, and the Upazila headquarters to clear government land of illegal encroachments. Such operations will continue.”
Local residents have urged authorities to take strict measures to reclaim public land and ensure accountability for those involved in these illegal activities.
