Permanent shops on leased land!

Violating rules and without taking permission from the authorities concerned a local influential man has been constructing permanent shops after taking lease of a rural market at Dhalapara in Ghatail upazila.

Moreover, the lease holder evicted the former traders, who had been running their business for long, and allocating the newly-constructed shops to others in exchange of huge money, evicted traders alleged.

The influential leaseholder, backed by powerful political quarters and a section of local public representatives, allegedly realizing Tk 5 to Tk 6 lakh for allocating each shop to the other people, they said.

As a result, nearly 300 small traders, who had been holding business on the rural market, became unemployed.

Finding no other alternative, the aggrieved traders submitted a written complaint to the local upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) recently, but yet to get any solution in this regard.

Shafiqul Islam, who was the previous lease holder, took lease of the traditional Dhalapara market this year at a cost of Tk 20.71 lakh.

But surprisingly, soon after taking lease of the market this year, Shafiqul evicted the former traders from their allocated places, saying some new shops will be constructed in front of the market.

Usually, a small space (viti) of the rural market is allocate to traders in exchange of a small amount of revenue every year, but the scenario is different this year, traders alleged.

They said leaseholder Shafiqul has already constructed a number of permanent shops, including 48 in front of the playground of a local school and a pond, on the leased market.

He later started allocating those shops to other traders in exchange of huge money, depriving the previous small traders, they further said.

Asked about the matter, Abdul Awal, a land official (Nayeb) at Dhalapara Union Land Office, said Shafiqul got the lease of the market for one year and he didn't know anything about construction of any shops there.

Contacted, Shafiqul said after getting lease of the market this year he has constructed some new shops there.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Tangail Deputy Commissioner Dr Ataul Gani said construction of permanent structures or shops on any leased rural market is a complete violation of rules.

After investigation, necessary steps will be taken in this regard, he added.