Arup Chandra,district cheap l Chittagong:

Most of the railway land in Feni has been taken over by local influential and political leaders. In addition, CNG-powered vehicle stands, illegal shops and open markets have been built next to the railway line. The risk of terrible accidents is increasing due to these illegal structures. The railway authorities are not taking any action against these.
It is alleged that local influential and political leaders and activists are managing some dishonest officials and employees of the Feni railway station and doing business by building illegal structures on railway sites. Occasionally, the Railway Eastern Zone Authority conducts a drive to evict illegal structures, but later the local people complain that the land is occupied again and the construction work of the structures continues.
It can be seen on the spot that an illegal CNG vehicle stand has been built next to the line at the Sahadebpur rail gate adjacent to the Feni railway station. Which is more risky. Every day, drivers of vehicles stand next to the railway line with CNG vehicles. When passengers board the car, they pull it to the destination. In this way, passengers are risking their lives and getting on and off the car every day.
When asked about Laskarhat-bound CNG passengers Mahabubul Haque, Ripon and Ayesha Begum, they said that all of their homes are in Laskarhat of Motbi Union. They usually travel via Sahadevpur and Alokdia Road. They said that it is not right to pick and drop passengers by placing CNG stands next to the railway line. A terrible accident can happen at any moment. They claim that it is better to move the CNG stand from here and put it in a safe place. They asked drivers to be aware of this and advised railway officials to take necessary measures.
Rubel, the lineman and CNG driver of the illegal CNG stand in Sahadevpur, said that this car stand has been there for 15 years next to the railway line. This stand was controlled by Kohinur Alam Rana Bhai, a former councilor of Ward No. 3 of the municipality. After he left, the stand went out of control. For the past 4 months, we CNG drivers have been managing the stand with two linemen. Here, 20 taka is collected daily from each CNG. This money is taken by me and lineman Sahel. Currently, a total of 60 CNG vehicles ply on the Feni-Laskarhat and Bhuiyanhat lines. All the vehicles are parked at the stands next to the railway line. He also said that Kohinoor’s leader has occupied many railway sites in addition to the CNG stand. He used to collect monthly extortion of 2 lakh taka from these occupied establishments. Although Kohinoor is currently absconding, his people still collect monthly extortion from illegal houses on the railway site. Meanwhile, a few acres of land called Sultan Mahmud Municipality Hawkers Market adjacent to Feni Railway Station is occupied by illegal traders. This market was controlled by the then influential MP of Feni, Nizam Uddin Hazari, municipal councilor Lutfur Rahman Khokon Hazari and district Jubo League vice-president Jane Alam Bhuiyan. These influential people controlled this market until the fall of the government. A businessman who did not want to be named said that 10 lakh taka was collected from the hawkers’ market every month. In addition, there is a risky temporary open market next to the railway line behind the hawkers’ market. That syndicate also had its roots there. An illegal micro-car stand was set up inside the railway station, which was also under their control. All in all, this market went beyond the control of the railway.
People aware of this matter believe that the railway department is an important site for the government. Many railway assets are lying unclaimed across the country. In Feni too, railway assets worth crores of taka are in the hands of various syndicates. During the previous government’s tenure, these places were taken into account under the shadow of political leaders. Currently, even during the interim government, everything is going on as before. They said, they strongly demanded that those who are involved in these irregularities be found and brought to justice.
Feni Railway Land Property Department Officer (Surveyor) Md. Salim Ullah Chowdhury said, parking vehicles next to the railway line is illegal. However, if we block them, they will not listen, they are floating. If we evict them, they come back and sit down again. Official action should be taken against these illegal occupants. No eviction drive has been conducted in the 6 months since I came. He avoided some issues and asked to talk to the higher authorities of the railway.
Bangladesh Railway’s Chittagong Divisional Land Property Officer and Senior Assistant Secretary Dipankar Tanchangya did not answer the phone to inquire about this.