Kushtia:A Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Kumarkhali upazila is allegedly constructing a multi-storey concrete house on government-owned khas land. Md Abu Taleb Hossain, who is also a chairman candidate for the upcoming union parishad election, is reportedly building the house on 2.82 acres in Gobindapur Mouza of Char-Sadipur Union.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the land is recorded under Khatian No. 1 and RS Plot No. 68 as Schedule-Kha government land. Locals estimate its market value at around Tk 6 crore. Despite the land's classification, construction materials have been observed at the site, and the ground-floor roof has already been cast.
Court documents reveal that Abu Taleb attempted to claim ownership through Civil Case No. 198/2018, filed in the Assistant Judge's Court in Kumarkhali. The case was dismissed on May 5, 2024, due to insufficient documentation. An appeal, registered as Appeal Case No. 117/24, is currently pending, yet construction reportedly continues.
Local residents have raised concerns about the legality of the construction. Abu Taleb, however, denies any wrongdoing, attributing the situation to errors in the RS records. He has refrained from commenting on the permissibility of ongoing construction during the appeal.
Land officer Habibur Rahman confirmed a recent inspection led to the cessation of construction work. He stated that RS Plot No. 68 is government land, contrasting with the privately owned Plot No. 69. A formal survey is needed to ascertain the land's status definitively.
Farzana Akter, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, emphasized that building on khas land is prohibited. She indicated that the survey process is delayed due to manpower shortages but assured that necessary actions will be implemented soon.