Nearly 5 acre govt land illegally grabbed in Jaflong, administration names eight individuals

An investigation by the upazila administration has found evidence that eight individuals were involved in illegally occupying nearly five acres of government-owned khas land at the Jaflong tourist destination in Gowainghat, Sylhet.

In a forwarding letter sent to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet on July 13, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Gowainghat requested that necessary action be taken over the illegal occupation.

The letter enclosed an investigation report submitted by the assistant land officer of the Gowainghat Sadar Union land office on June 24. The report identified eight individuals, each linked to a business establishment, for illegally occupying the khas land.

According to the investigation, the individuals occupied 4.65 acres of government land by constructing permanent concrete structures on two dags that originally belonged to the district administration.

The individuals named in the report are Abdul Kuddus of Jaflong View Restaurant, his brother Faruk Ahmed of Jaflong View Guest House, Anwar Hossain Juber of Paris Restaurant and Guest House, Nuruzzaman of Jaintya Valley Resort, Alam Bakht of Jaflong Green Restaurant, his brother Babul Bakht of Real Resort, Raihan of Shimanto Restaurant, and Umar Ali of Parjatak View Restaurant.

The investigation was initiated on the instructions of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Sylhet following an application filed by Zakir Hossain, an executive member of the Sylhet District Bus Owners Association, on behalf of local residents.