When development is force-fed

A city corporation taking measures to widen roads and footpaths and improve the drainage system should ideally be good news for the locals. However, for many residents of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), this has become a headache, the reason being the corporation's reckless grabbing of private properties to carry out these tasks.

A report published by The Daily Star on September 26 elaborates the sufferings of the property owners whose lands are being encroached by the GCC authorities. To quote from the report, "Aggrieved landowners allege that the city corporation employees earlier this year started either demolishing the structures or forcing the owners to knock down parts of their residential buildings and factories, shops, and boundary walls, without acquiring the lands in the first place."

And more often than not, the victims—property owners—did not receive any compensation from the city authorities. On the contrary, they had to hire cleaners to remove the rubble of the demolished structures. In the words of GCC Mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam himself, around 30,000 structures have been affected due to the city corporation's drive.

Many business institutions had to bear the brunt of the GCC's land-grabbing spree as well, as the latter demolished their fences and encroached their lands. One such company is Quasem Lamps Limited, whose boundary the GCC officials had knocked off, despite a High Court directive on February 1 this year to maintain the status quo over the possession of a land owned by the company for six months. This move effectively exposed the GCC authorities to the risk of contempt of court.

Consequently, on September 16, the High Court asked Mayor Jahangir Alam, along with two others, to explain within four weeks why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for flouting the court's directive.

Even trees were not spared by the GCC. They felled hundreds of trees to make more room for roads and footpaths. The GCC is doing all these to implement two projects costing Tk 2,200 crore to widen almost 800 kilometres of roads and footpaths, and improve the city's drainage system.

Many of those affected by the demolition drive refrained from lodging formal complaints or reporting their experience to the media, fearing repercussions. However, more than 100 victims have filed writ petitions with the High Court against the GCC's actions. While the GCC has paid out meagre amounts to 95 of the complainants—the court ordered for the matter to be disposed of immediately—the majority of victims are yet to get any payment from the authorities. Even those who were paid had to use their political clout to get the money.

However, a city corporation cannot just grab private property. According to the rules that exist in Bangladesh, development work in metropolitan cities cannot be undertaken without properly acquiring land. Unfortunately, land acquisition rules were completely disregarded by the GCC and its mayor, who, when pressed to explain their actions, remarked rather curtly, "If you follow the government laws, you will not be able to do anything here," as quoted by this newspaper.

In the defence of GCC's actions, one can say that the projects were undertaken before 2013, when Gazipur City Corporation was formally recognised. The work, however, began only in March 2019. Therefore, one can easily ask: Why are the land acquisition rules being grossly flouted by the GCC now that it is a recognised city corporation?

Md Tazul Islam, the LGRD and cooperatives minister, recently commented that while he had heard of the GCC's land encroachment misadventures, the government received no formal complaint. But since he had come to know of such allegations, why did the relevant authorities not take a closer look at the issue? Why has the misery of Gazipur residents been allowed to go unaddressed?

While it is all well and good to expand roads and improve walkways and drainage systems, it cannot be done at the cost of causing the common people suffering.

Apparently, when the two projects in question were approved, provisions for compensation and land acquisition were not taken into account. As a result, now there is no compensation for the victims. One might be pardoned for asking: In a project that entails acquisition of additional land—often private property—why were these possibilities not explored, and monetary and logistical provisions not kept? Who reviewed these projects, and who approved them?

The report by The Daily Star further quoted SM Tariqul Islam, deputy commissioner of Gazipur, who admitted that some local residents had discussed the matter with him. But no one filed a written complaint, and as a result, he claimed, he could not take any action. At this point, one might ask: Why are the residents of Gazipur so fearful that they refrain from taking formal steps against the land grabbers? What do they fear—and whom, for that matter?

In the case of Gazipur, while public suffering is a matter of concern, what is even more alarming is the sheer lack of responsibility of the city corporation officials. Shortage of fund or not, a city corporation cannot just knock down private property—or worse, force people to demolish their own homes and structures. The city corporation, whatever their reason may be, cannot flout the laws of the land and court directives, and be reckless about it. A city corporation is an important institution that should look after the welfare of the local residents, not cause them further sufferings.

By going against the rules and the court directives, the GCC has set a very disturbing precedent—one that sends a dangerous message to other city corporations and state institutions. The higher authorities should look into this matter with the urgency it deserves, and take remedial measures starting with compensating the victims.

This is not how community welfare projects are implemented. Such belligerent and thoughtless actions defeat the very purpose of such projects. These never yield positive results, rather only exacerbate the sufferings of the common people and spread fear and discontent among them. These misadventures must end, and the GCC should be held accountable for its illegal actions.

Tasneem Tayeb is a columnist for The Daily Star. Her Twitter handle is @tasneem_tayeb