Ramgarh Correspondent :
Tension has been going on for a long time between the local 43 BGB and the upazila administration over the occupation of government space in the old SDO bungalow and office area in Ramgarh of Khagrachari.
On Monday, two persons were jailed for the crime of repairing the barbed wire fence provided by the BGB in the area. Upazila administration jailed those two persons named Abul Kalam and Ruhul Amin for 5 days through mobile court. Meanwhile, on Tuesday (August 2), a large number of BGB members dressed in uniform worked to build a barbed wire fence at the place in question, the day after the incident.
Meanwhile, in the tension between the two important departments of the government regarding the place, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Khagrachari visited the discussed place on Thursday (August 4). Upazila Executive Officer Khondkar Md Ikhtiyar Uddin Arafat said that the BGB has illegally occupied the 5.42 acres of land recorded in the name of Upazila Parishad in holding No. 148 of Nakapa Mauza No. 235. In this place of the Parishad there is the office and residence (bungalow) of the old Sub-divisional Administrator (SDO) established in 1920.
Besides, there are Upazila Youth Development Office, Secondary Education Office and Rural Savings Bank. BGB fenced the entire place including these government offices with barbed wire fences. UNO also said that the area has a total area of 8.45 centuries. In addition to the 5.42 acres of land recorded in the name of the Parishad, the remaining district commissioner’s Khas Khatian has 3.3 acres of land. Within this area, 1.50 acres for the Upazila Land Office and 0.85 acres of land for construction of Prime Minister’s Priority Project Model Mosque and Islamic Research Center have been proposed to the higher authorities.
He said that in 2019, BGB made barbed wire fence around the entire area of upazila parishad records and district commissioner’s khas khatian. He said, in this regard, the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Border-1 Branch has instructed the Khagrachari District Commissioner to take necessary measures in light of the existing laws and regulations regarding illegally occupied land.
UNO said that last April, BGB also obstructed the renovation work of historical old SDO bungalow, which is full of memories of the liberation war. He also said that BGB applied for settlement of 3.5 acres but it was rejected by Chittagong Hill Tracts Ministry. On the other hand, it is claimed by the BGB that the place in question has been in their possession since the establishment of the BGB in Ramgarh in 1795 under the name of ‘Ramgarh Local Battalion’. Besides, the presence of BGB at that place is necessary for national strategic reasons.
Regarding the construction of barbed wire fence by BGB members at the discussed place on Monday, Deputy Commander of 43 BGB Major Md. Moniruzzaman said, ‘BGB has done routine maintenance of barbed wire fence in their special camp area.’ Khagrachari Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Kazi Md. Alim Ullah, while visiting the site in question on Thursday, said.
“There is no land record in the name of BGB at the site in question.” Such a disagreement of BGB with the upazila administration is undesirable.” Mostafa Hossain, General Secretary and UP Chairman Kazi Nurul Alam, former Upazila Vice Chairman Abdul Quader and others were present. Meanwhile, the tension between the BGB and the upazila administration over government land has generated mixed reactions among local residents.
The leading persons said that the intervention of the higher authorities is necessary for the speedy resolution of this embarrassing situation for all. Ramgarh Upazila Chairman Biswa Pradeep Karbari said, ‘Disagreement between BGB and Upazila administration over government space is very undesirable and embarrassing for everyone. This problem can easily be solved with the intervention of the concerned higher authorities.
Ramgarh Municipality Mayor Md. Rafiqul Alam Kamal said, ‘This problem has been going on since 2019. It is sad that it has not been resolved so far. If the higher authorities concerned do not resolve it quickly, there will be more bitterness between the two important departments of the government.’ Md. Mostafa Hossain, President of Upazila Awami League, senior political figure of Ramgarh, said, ‘The deterioration of the relationship between the two organizations regarding the government space is not good. This problem will not be solved by sending letters. It will be resolved only when senior officials of both parties sit at the negotiating table.’
