Locals blame administrative negligence, lack of coordination and mismanagement

 
 
Around 992 acres of land along the western bank of the Jamuna River near Sirajganj town, reclaimed and developed under a government project costing Tk638.15 crore, remain largely unused, with allegations that different parts of the land are gradually being encroached upon.
 
Despite the massive public investment, no effective plan has been implemented for much of the reclaimed land near Cross Bars 3 and 4. Shops, restaurants and houses have reportedly been built on different parts of the site, raising concerns over the protection of government property and potential revenue losses.
 
Local residents blame the alleged negligence, lack of coordination and mismanagement of the district administration and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for allowing influential groups to occupy the land for commercial and residential purposes.
 
They allege that individuals linked to both ruling and opposition political parties, along with influential people, have been constructing permanent and temporary structures on valuable land inside and outside the China Bund embankment, allegedly with the assistance of some officials concerned. Some portions of the land are also reportedly being used under informal leasing arrangements.
 
Those familiar with the matter say the situation has become more complicated because of the failure to ensure proper use of the land over the years and unresolved disputes over privately owned plots. They warn that further delays in taking effective measures could trigger unwanted confrontations over possession of the land.
 
ALLEGATIONS OF ENCROACHMENT AND UNAUTHORISED CONSTRUCTION
 
Several local residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that inadequate administrative monitoring had allowed unauthorised occupants to gain control of different parts of the vast tract of land.
 
They also claimed that criminal activities occur regularly in different areas of the site.
 
A visit to the area found construction underway on a permanent two-storey restaurant near the entrance to the China Bund, on land extending into the riverbed. According to information gathered locally, a young man named Zahid is involved in the construction, allegedly under the patronage of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader from the town’s Bhangabari area.
 
However, questions remain over the ownership and legal status of the land, which re-emerged after being submerged by river erosion.
 
Several other restaurants and business establishments made of bamboo and timber have also been set up nearby. It could not be independently confirmed whether the operators had obtained permission or possessed valid documents authorising the use of the land.
 
MORE THAN TK638 CRORE SPENT ON LAND RECLAMATION
 
According to information from the district administration and the BWDB, the then Awami League government undertook a project titled Protection of the Proposed Economic Zone in Sirajganj District and Development of Reclaimed Land from the Jamuna River under the supervision of the water development board.
 
The project began in the 2017–18 fiscal year and was completed in 2023, with a total expenditure of Tk638.15 crore from public funds.
 
Under the project, approximately 1,156 acres of land were reclaimed and filled along the western bank of the Jamuna River. Around Tk294.81 crore was spent on earth filling across an area of 4.68 square kilometres, while Tk201.26 crore was allocated for 3.20 kilometres of riverbank protection works. A dam was also constructed under the project at a cost of around Tk10 crore. The Bangladesh Army implemented the project.
 
However, even after its completion, effective use of a substantial portion of the reclaimed land has yet to be ensured. According to sources concerned, around 992 acres of the 1,156 acres recovered under the project remain unused for their intended purposes.
 
Meanwhile, structures have reportedly been built on different parts of the land. Some areas have been occupied by shops and houses, while others are being used for livestock rearing and other activities.
 
DISPUTES OVER PRIVATELY OWNED LAND
 
Under the project, approximately 643 acres of privately owned land across nine mouzas—Puthiabari, Raipur, Biara, Chhotapiari, Barapiari, Banbaria, Morgram, Beltia and Ramgati—were reportedly filled with earth.
 
The work triggered disputes between local landowners and the administration. Unresolved questions over ownership, compensation and the future use of the land have also impeded the overall development of the project area.
 
Documents show that on April 1, 2021, the then deputy commissioner of Sirajganj sent a letter to the principal secretary to the prime minister and the executive chairman of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), seeking Tk1,026,37,31,688 as the estimated price of the land for establishing an industrial park in the area.
 
Later, on August 14, 2022, another letter was sent to the BEZA executive chairman seeking Tk1,076,89,90,741 as the estimated price of 301.09 acres of land in five mouzas—Puthiabari, Raipur, Biara, Chhotapiari and Barapiari.
 
Neither initiative, however, produced any tangible results.
 
CHILDREN’S PARK INITIATIVE ALSO RUNS INTO TROUBLE
 
On September 4, 2024, the then deputy commissioner of Sirajganj, Muhammad Nazrul Islam, unexpectedly announced plans to establish a facility called the Jamuna Eco Children’s Park near Cross Bar-3 and laid its foundation stone.
 
Days later, local residents demolished the foundation stone, alleging that the initiative had been taken without paying land price to the owners.
 
Subsequently, on December 9 of the same year, the then deputy commissioner sent a report containing details of the land to the secretary to the then chief adviser. The report outlined an initiative to establish an industrial park in the area through the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA).
 
However, sources concerned said the plan had yet to make any visible progress.
 
AUTHORITIES’ RESPONSE
 
Sirajganj BWDB Executive Engineer Md Sajjad Hossain said he had recently joined the office and was not aware of the identities of the actual owners of the disputed land.
 
“I have recently joined. I do not know who the actual owners of those lands are. However, it is necessary to take initiatives to stop construction on land that has re-emerged after being lost to river erosion,” he said.
 
He added that he would discuss the matter with the Deputy Commissioner (DC).
 
No official of the district administration, however, agreed to comment on the allegations of encroachment, construction of unauthorised structures or the future use of the land reclaimed under the project.
 
With nearly Tk638 crore spent on the project, the prolonged non-use of a substantial portion of the reclaimed land and allegations of encroachment have raised serious questions about the authorities’ oversight and accountability.
 
The key question now is when the relevant authorities will take effective steps to protect this public asset and ensure that the reclaimed land is used for the purposes for which the project was undertaken.