Zilla Parishad has yet to recover land encroached upon by DSCC

Zilla Parishad Struggles to Reclaim Land from DSCC

During his tenure as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Fazle Noor Taposh allegedly encroached upon 20 decimals of land belonging to Dhaka Zilla Parishad in the Katabon area in May 2023. Following this, construction of a multi-storey building commenced on the site. However, despite the mass protests in July 2024, DSCC has yet to respond to three official requests for the removal of the structure.

According to Zilla Parishad records, the first letter requesting the removal of the basement and other structures was sent to the DSCC chief executive officer on 29 January, followed by two subsequent letters on 12 February and 23 February. Despite repeated follow-ups, no action has been taken by DSCC.

At the time of the alleged encroachment, Mehedi Hasan was serving as the chief executive officer of the Zilla Parishad. He has since been transferred to Manikganj Zilla Parishad. Speaking to Prothom Alo, he revealed that preparations were underway to issue a tender for constructing a convention centre at the site, with all necessary ministry approvals in place. However, on 8 May 2023, DSCC officials arrived unannounced, forcibly removed the workers, and took over the land.

Mehedi Hasan further stated that his attempts to file a police complaint were denied. He later pursued legal action and wrote to the local government ministry seeking intervention, but no action was taken.

Documents from the Zilla Parishad indicate that DSCC appointed Shelltech Consultants Private Limited as a consulting firm for constructing a multi-storey building on the occupied land. While the basement construction was completed, no further progress was made. When questioned about the matter, DSCC Administrator Shahjahan Mia, who has been in office for just over a month, directed inquiries to the chief land officer.

Chief Property Officer Kaisar Mohammad Farabi claimed he was unaware of the details and suggested speaking with DSCC surveyor Mizanur Rahman. Mizanur Rahman confirmed that the land belongs to Dhaka Zilla Parishad and disclosed that Mayor Taposh had intended to build a convention hall to aid the area’s development. However, construction was halted on 5 August after objections from the Zilla Parishad.

This is not the first instance of DSCC’s involvement in alleged land encroachments. In February 2016, then-Mayor Sayeed Khokon demolished a Zilla Parishad market in Nandipara, Khilgaon, which housed 72 shops. Recently, the Zilla Parishad’s chief executive officer sent a letter to DSCC demanding compensation for revenue loss due to the demolition but has not received a response.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Moazzem Hossain, the current chief executive officer of the Zilla Parishad, reiterated that multiple letters have been sent to DSCC requesting the removal of illegal structures on the Katabon land, yet no response has been received.

In a separate case, Tarequzzaman alias Rajib, a former Jubo League leader and ex-councillor of Ward 33, took control of a five-storey convention centre in Mohammadpur owned by the Zilla Parishad in 2015. Despite shifts in political power, the building remains under the possession of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

Moazzem Hossain stated that multiple requests have been made to DNCC for the release of the building so that contractors can resume work, but no action has been taken. DNCC’s new administrator, Mohammad Ejaz, appointed in February 2025, assured Prothom Alo that the building would be handed back to the Zilla Parishad immediately after Eid.

Commenting on the issue, Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), emphasized that one government agency cannot occupy the land of another. He noted that while such practices may have occurred under authoritarian rule, they have no place in a democratic system.