An allegation of forcibly occupying government land belonging to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the pretext of constructing a mosque madrasa and embezzling government property has surfaced near the Ansar Camp area in Bhedbhedi, Rangamati town.
Following the incident, the Rangamati RHD informed and sought assistance from various administrative authorities, including the local Zone Commander, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), and Rangamati Kotwali Police Station where a General Diary (GD) was lodged.
On Thursday 29 October, RHD Surveyor Mohammad Afzal Hossain filed the GD at Kotwali Police Station against five individuals from Muslim Para: Md Ala Uddin Joy, 35, Md Absar, 40, Jashim Khan, Antu Das, and Md Mizan. Local residents further alleged that several dishonest individuals from various parts of the town were involved with this syndicate.
According to the GD, the land in question falls under RHD’s First Line Workshop in Bhedbhedi and has traditionally been used as housing for department employees. A group of local dishonest elements colluded to forcibly occupy a portion of the land by erecting shop structures under cover of darkness. Furthermore, on the night of 28 October, the perpetrators entered the RHD staff quarters and completely vandalised the barracks constructed for employees.
Earlier on 27 October, when an RHD team led by Sub-Divisional Engineer (SDE) Rahad attempted to prevent the illegal occupation, they were harassed and threatened. RHD Sub-Assistant Engineer Ronen Chakma alleged that staff members were subjected to continuous intimidation and death threats, and officials were obstructed while attempting to capture mobile phone video footage of the incident.
A physical inspection of the site revealed that the boundary has been enclosed with tin sheets, with internal construction work underway. A signboard posted outside reads “Madrasa Work”. RHD sources said that after demolishing the old employee quarters, the syndicate constructed shop structures and rented them out for lakhs of taka in advance key money (‘salami’).
Highlighting further grievances, Moni Swapan Kamal, an adviser to the Muslim Para Community Management Committee, alleged that Md Rubel of Molla Para, alongside Antu Das, Ala Uddin Joy, and Robi Ahmed of Muslim Para, were actively involved in grabbing land using the madrasa’s name.
He claimed that this syndicate had previously seized land belonging to the Hatchery and the Betar Kendra (radio station) in addition to RHD property. Kamal claimed that the majority of the syndicate members are Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists who have been illegitimately grabbing land for a long time under the party’s banner.
Refuting the allegations, accused Md Ala Uddin Joy claimed that the RHD’s assertion of ownership is entirely false and insisted that all valid documentation exists in the name of the madrasa. He acknowledged installing the madrasa signboard, claiming SDE Rahad subsequently came and broke it down.
When questioned about his affiliation with the BNP, Joy provided inconsistent statements regarding his political identity. He went on to claim that an Australian company had originally built the quarters for its employees and that RHD had built no accommodation there, though he contradicted himself by later acknowledging that RHD holds 1.75 acres of land at the location.
Rangamati RHD Executive Engineer Sabuj Chakma confirmed that a syndicate has been attempting to grab government land under RHD in Bhedbhedi under the guise of a mosque madrasa and issued death threats to RHD personnel. He said that a GD has been filed seeking a resolution, and administrative authorities—including the Zone Commander and UNO—as well as Rangamati District BNP President Dipan Talukder Dipu, have been formally notified.
When contacted, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rangamati Kotwali Police Station, Md Jashim Uddin, confirmed receipt of the GD regarding the illegal occupation of RHD land in Bhedbhedi. He said that the police have petitioned the court for permission to conduct an official investigation, which will commence as soon as court sanction is granted.
