Leased land of Bangladesh Railway (BR) is being unofficially sold to different people in Ishwarganj Railway Station area of Mymensingh for huge amounts of money, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned.

Some 25 tin-shed houses have been built on the land adjacent to the signal of the station in a couple of weeks, local people said.

Sources said Mahbubul Alam and his elder brother Harez Ali took lease of some railway land around 20 years ago on condition of using it for agriculture or fish  farming.

Officials of BR's Estate Department, however, could not say how much land was leased to the two brothers.

As per rule, such lease is to be renewed every year but it has not been done for several years, said Soumendra Narayan Bhattacharya, stationmaster of Ishwarganj Railway Station.

There are allegations that Mahbub is 'selling out' without registration pieces of railway land for 'high prices' on condition that the land must be handed over to the railway if the latter need it.

"As per lease conditions, there is no scope to sell out railway land or construct houses on it. I informed the high officials of Estate Department to take necessary action against Mahbub," the stationmaster said.

Estate officials visited the spot a few days ago and Mahbub allegedly misbehaved with them, sources said.

Fayez Uddin, surveyor of Railway Estate Department in Mymensingh, said, Mahbub has so far sold out some 30-decimal land to 17 people, which is totally illegal.

In absence of proper monitoring, railway land is being grabbed in different areas of Mymensingh and the trend sees rise under political influence, said railway sources.

Contacted, Mahbub said, "Of my leased land, 30 decimals had been lying fallow for long as it cannot be used for agriculture or fish farming. I cannot sell out the land as it is not my ancestral property. I just permitted some poor people of my locality to construct houses there on temporary basis."

Asked whether he has the right to give such permission, he could not give any satisfactory answer.

Another man introducing himself as 'elder brother' of Mahbub told this correspondent in an angry tone, "Mahbub has permitted some poor people to build houses. Many people in Ishwarganj have occupied railway land but the journalists are harassing Mahbub."

Several locals said a few local influential people have joined hands with Mahbub as a huge amount of money is involved in the matter.