3,024.84 Acres of Railway Land Illegally Occupied as Authorities Fail to Protect Assets

Eklas Haque

Bangladesh Railway owns thousands of acres of land. Its huge property spreads from one end of the country to the other. But the railway has no effective watch to keep an exact account of this huge land or to check it regularly. Brick buildings, shops, markets and businesses have grown on railway land, and powerful people hold many valuable plots.

Encroachment, land filling, illegal buildings and land trading have gone on for years. Though these things have gone on for a long time, the railway fails to take effective action. By letting people hold its land illegally, the government loses revenue. It also opens the way for land disputes, irregularities and illegal business. Railway land lies in many districts, upazilas, towns, ports, railway stations and key commercial areas. It lies beside the tracks, near stations and in the heart of cities.

A large part of this huge state asset lies unused year after year. At the same time, illegal occupiers control much land. The railway says its total land is 63,072.909 acres. The railway itself uses 42,009.52 acres. It has leased out 25,083.1388 acres. Illegal occupiers hold 3,024.84 acres. There are 1,991 land related cases in court.

The website of the Ministry of Railways says the railway has a total of 61,860.28 acres of land. It says 3,678.83 acres are under illegal occupation. The railway leased out 25,083 acres and earned Tk 87.72 crore from leases in the last fiscal year. Under the land management policy, the railway will ensure planned use of its unused land through leases or licences, depending on the type of application.

The process to recover occupied land and evict illegal buildings is ongoing. The railway recently began using Railway Estate Management Software for proper land management. It will help ensure planned use of unused land and recover occupied land. Most occupiers have ties with political parties, so most of the time the railway cannot free the land. There are also claims that some railway officials and staff help the occupiers.

Along the Dhaka to Narayanganj line, markets and bazaars have grown on both sides of the railway gates in many areas. Poor upkeep has let people occupy the land. More than 50 markets have grown on this route. Many kinds of businesses have grown near the airport and Tejgaon railway station. A fish market and other shops have grown beside the Tejgaon railway line. Illegal shops have come up on both sides of the Khilgaon railway crossing. The same picture shows in areas near railway lines and stations across the country.

Chief Estate Officer (West) of Bangladesh Railway Mr. Md. Nadim Sarwar told Inqilab that they are working to recover occupied railway land fast. He said regular eviction drives recover illegally held land. He said that when they get a complaint that someone holds railway land at a particular place, they run a recovery drive there too.

Executive Director of the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) Prof. Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan told Inqilab that leaving government land unused is not only a waste of resources. He said it also opens the way for illegal occupation. He said land beside the railway line, near stations and in key city areas has high commercial value. He said that if the railway used its land properly, it could build planned commercial buildings, warehouses, logistics centres, farm produce stores, parking, transport related businesses and other public welfare projects.

He said that many plots stay unused for years, and this slowly lets illegal buildings come up. He said officials cannot be unaware of the land grabbing and that the occupiers have an understanding with railway officials. He said the occupiers make fake papers and file cases. Because courts take a long time to give a verdict, the railway cannot get the occupied land back. He said that if the railway recovers its occupied land, it will help in expanding the railway.

State Minister for Railways Mr. Habibur Rashid said the government has already decided to give no new leases. He said they will review the existing leases and cancel those that can be cancelled. He said the railway has an idea to power itself with solar energy in many places. He said government property is for the people and for government work. He said the government will not let anyone use government property for personal gain.

Minister for Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Mr. Sheikh Md. Robiul Alam said the railway will first use its land for its own needs and then for the state’s needs. He said that for land that individuals or groups use, the government will take action under the existing laws and rules.