Freeing railways` land from grabbers

A VERNACULAR daily on Saturday reported that around 4391 acre lands of Bangladesh Railway have been dispossessed by political goons and influentials across the country. The Railway Authorities time to time knock down establishments along railway tracks but immediately after the eviction drives political elements erect illegal establishments again. In these dispossessed lands people construct shacks, markets, bazaars, shops, and even schools, madrashas, mosques and offices of political parties. The areas are epicenters of social crimes, including extortion, drug peddling, illegal business and militancy that threaten social stability and state security. Resistance against eviction drives empowered by ruling party men sometimes turn into a battleground that prevent the eviction drives from being effective.Railway officials said that most of the settlers are linked with political elements that embolden them to be safe during drives. Besides, a vested group of railway employees occupy the lands, erect structures on the lands, and rent to others. As an example: one Solaiman occupied 13 acres land of railway in Narayanganj after the Railway Authorities abandoned its colony on the land. The man erected shanties there and rented the shanties to people. Many claimed that the slums and other establishments along the railway or other places are virtually out of law enforcers’ vigilance and it makes the area a hub of all urban crimes. Reports said local police and goons control the areas, collect extortion, control drug business, and many other crimes. So the drives to knock down the illegal establishments are somehow abated by the interest of the ruling goons and dishonest policemen. In this way, the illegal occupants are slowly engulfing the Railway properties and lands.For the up-gradation of rapid communication between the capital city and rest of the country, the government must focus on the development of railways. The government must come out with elaborate and coordinated plans to drive out criminals from railway areas for maintaining law and order, combating drug peddling, crimes and militancy too. Besides, the establishments, whatever it is, should make land vacant removing people living along the railway tracks which is a major cause for accidents. It is imperative to clear out the lands as the Railway Authorities are not well equipped to protect their properties. Moreover, the government should see the occupiers do not enjoy political or administrative blessings.