Rein in land grabbers
There is no let-up in land grabbing in the country. In the latest incident, according to a report in this newspaper on Monday, a widow was allegedly stripped, tied up, and thrashed by a gang that wants to grab her land in Patuakhali districts Dashmina upazila recently. Dashmina police rescued the victim but have failed to arrest any of the accused till now. It is worrying to note that influential people are active in grabbing lands in rural and urban areas. They are not only grabbing lands but also encroaching rivers.
Some real estate companies are also involved in such nefarious activities. Even law enforcers have failed to deter them. Most of the grabbers are enjoying patronage from powerful quarters. Money and muscle power reign supreme. It is shocking to note that powerful politicians have also joined hands with these criminals. Due to the rapaciousness of the grabbers many people have become literally pauperized. In the past many murders were committed centring around land grabbing.
There are laws against land grabbing but execution of those is hardly noticed. Ordinary people do not go to court because the entire process is cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive. Many cases run for years together. Though legal battles have been going on for recovering some grabbed lands, possibility of getting back the same is slim as the grabbers are very much powerful as they are backed by fake documents, avaricious lawyers and dishonest government officials. The legal system for recovering the grabbed lands should be strengthened.
The law officers and the public prosecutors of the successive governments showed lukewarm attitudes in recovering the lands as they did not find the job lucrative from financial standpoint. Taking advantage of it, the lawyers engaged by the grabbers with lucrative honorariums gained upper hand. Due to the lackadaisical roles of the government lawyers the cases relating to the lands weakened and the grabbers ultimately won the same.
It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to take the sternest measures against the land grabbers. The government officials aiding the grabbers should also be reined in. The members of the law enforcement agencies, particularly police, should be allowed to work without fear or favour. As for the Patuakhali case, the relevant authorities should take necessary action against the grabbers. People are waiting to see what action is taken in this case. If needed, the parliament should frame new law to resist land grabbing.
