Gazipur road widening: Compensation unpaid, yet work resumes

The Gazipur City Corporation has resumed widening streets and construction of drains and footpaths without compensating those who lost land for the development work.

The work remained stalled after GCC mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam was suspended over various allegations including land grabbing on November 25.

Before his suspension, the city corporation "encroached" on private properties and demolished buildings without compensating the affected landowners.

The city, however, is mulling a project to compensate the affected and a list of them is being made.

"We are now carrying out a digital survey in different areas to make a list of the affected people and determine what amount of land each of them lost due to the development work," GCC acting mayor Asadur Rahman Kiron told The Daily Star recently.

He said they expect this work would be completed soon. After that, they will prepare a Development Project Proposal and send it to the ministry concerned for fund allocation.

"The city corporation is not capable of paying the huge amount. So, we are seeking funds from the government," Asadur said in response to a query.

Asked whether the LGRD ministry assured them of funds, he replied in the negative.

He, however, said they have taken the move with the consent from two ministers of Gazipur.

"People have been affected as 20-feet roads were widened to 60-feet ones without following any rules. It cannot happen," added Asadur, also the panel mayor.

Aggrieved landowners earlier told this newspaper that the employees of the GCC early last year either demolished their structures or forced owners to knock down parts of their homes and factories, shops and walls without acquiring the land.

The GCC undertook two projects at a cost of Tk 2,200 crore to widen almost 800km of roads and construct drains and footpaths.

The move devoid of any rules resulted in several thousand Gazipur city dwellers losing their valuable properties.

The GCC continued its work ignoring two High Court orders to maintain status quo.

Amid such developments, the LGRD ministry on November 25 suspended mayor Jahangir on allegations that include land grabbing, not compensating people after taking over their land for development work, and working against public interest.

His suspension came after he was expelled from the Awami League on November 19 for his controversial comments on Bangabandhu and Liberation War martyrs.

Visiting different areas of Gazipur city recently, one of these correspondents found the development work has already been completed in some areas.

Residents along the street from Dhirashram to Samantapur Purba Para said expect for 300 metres, the road in the area was widened after demolishing buildings on its both sides about two years ago. The road was resurfaced around eight months ago.

Shahnaz Akhtar, wife of Monir Hossain of the area, said, "The city corporation has been assuring us of compensation like they did before. "Stalled work is being completed, but we are yet to get any payment."

She said they wanted compensation as per the government rules.

Nasima Akhter, wife of Ruhul Amin of Samantapur Purba Para area, said, "Staffers of the city corporation came and measured the land three months ago. We are uncertain when and how much compensation we will get."

Talking to locals, this newspaper also learnt that around 200m stretch of Dhirashram-Chhoto Dewra road, work on which had remained stopped, was completed around two months ago.

Besides, asphalt is being laid on around 3km stretch from Karkhana to Kaultia link road in North Salna area. Similar work is underway on the 2km stretch from Porabari Kata road to Colony road.

"A significant portion of my land has been taken away for the road widening, but I did not get any compensation," said Noor Banu of Salna area.

Akbar Hossain, additional chief engineer of the GCC, said as per the city corporation rules, the affected landowners are entitled to get compensation. A list of the affected is being prepared and it would be sent to the LGRD ministry for allocation of funds, he added.