CDA contractor faces obstruction from criminals in development works
Chattogram Bureau
A contractor has faced obstruction from criminals while carrying out development work for the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA).
The incident has caused a stir in the area, and relevant sources say the progress of the work is being severely hampered.
In Karnaphuli, Chattogram, contractor Masud Rana came under obstruction from criminals while constructing an Ansar camp for the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA). On Saturday (August 2), he filed a General Diary (GD) with the local Karnaphuli Police Station regarding the matter. The GD was confirmed by the investigating officer, SI Md. Iqbal.
According to the GD, on Saturday (August 2), while constructing an office for CDA’s Ansar force in the Bridgeghat area, local occupiers Md. Faruk (50) and Md. Asif (25) and their associates obstructed the work. They threatened and intimidated the contractor, using abusive and obscene language.
Investigating officer Iqbal stated that locals have built shops by illegally occupying CDA land along the Bridgeghat area of the Karnaphuli riverbank. Despite multiple eviction drives, the land could not be kept free from encroachment. CDA appointed a contractor to build an Ansar camp on the site. When the contractor began the construction, a group of criminals, on behalf of the occupiers, created obstruction. As a result, contractor Masud Rana filed the GD. Immediately after the GD was lodged, the officer-in-charge instructed them to visit the site. The encroachers were found behaving aggressively, and the threats were confirmed to be true. However, as the matter is under investigation, further details cannot yet be disclosed. The investigation is ongoing to identify all those involved. Legal action will be taken against anyone obstructing government work.
When asked about the matter, CDA-appointed contractor Md. Masud Rana said, "After receiving the work order from CDA, I went to the Bridgeghat area to start the project. At that time, a local occupier named Nasir stopped me, saying he would not allow me to work. Later, he expressed his intention to work as a subcontractor. When I refused, he incited the illegal occupier syndicate against me. Consequently, Faruk and several other occupiers launched false propaganda to portray me as an extortionist in a failed attempt to discredit me."
It is mentioned that local criminals have illegally occupied CDA land in the Bridgeghat area and are renting it out. They feared that setting up an Ansar camp there would put an end to their extortion activities, so they dared to halt the construction work.
Regarding this , CDA Executive Engineer Md. Hasan said, "For a long time, our land in the Bridgeghat area has been under illegal occupation by land grabbers. Even after several eviction drives, we could not stop the illegal encroachment. Therefore, CDA decided to construct an Ansar camp there to maintain control over the site. Through the tender process, Masud Rana was appointed as the contractor."
