Naogaon student leaders accused of building restaurant on ‘gifted’ govt land

Three student leaders of the anti-discrimination movement in Naogaon's Manda upazila have been accused of illegally occupying land belonging to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and constructing a restaurant there.

Locals have alleged the land was "gifted" to them by former UNO Shah Alam Mia shortly before his transfer on 14 July. They also claim Shah Alam was directly involved in setting up the restaurant.

The students, however, when contacted by TBS, insisted they applied for a lease in April, but the department denies granting any permission for construction on government property.

The restaurant, "Manda River Court," stands near the Atrai River ferry ghat bridge along the Naogaon-Rajshahi highway. It was built by student leaders Ripon, Fahim, and Sozib, all linked to the anti-discrimination movement in the area.

Shah Alam Mia served as UNO from November last year to July this year and developed close relations with the trio.

Denying any illegal construction, Student leader Fahim Rahman stated, "We applied for a lease with the Road and Highway Department in April. The process is progressing, and former UNO Shah Alam Mia has been very helpful."

"No permanent structures were built, and we never used our movement's identity to obtain the lease," Ripon added.

However, RHD's Naogaon Executive Engineer Rashedul Haque confirmed to TBS that while lease applications had been received, no permission was granted. "A few students had applied to lease the land, introducing themselves as young entrepreneurs. The matter was reported to higher authorities. No decision has been made in this regard yet, and the construction is illegal," he said.

Necessary steps will be taken to demolish the illegal structure, he added.

According to residents, semi-permanent structures were erected under the protection of the upazila administration and that police intimidated those who tried to intervene. The inauguration banner featured district commissioner Mohammad Abdul Awal as the guest, as confirmed by Shah Alam Mia.

Meanwhile, Fazle Rabby, a student leader and representative of the anti-discrimination student movement in Naogaon, called for a thorough investigation and legal action if wrongdoing is found.

"There is no scope to misuse this platform for illegal benefits through liaison with the administration. We strongly demand legal action against the three student representatives if the allegations against them are found to be true after investigation," he said.

Now Deputy Director (administration) at the Bangladesh Civil Service Academy, Shah Alam Mia told TBS, "I wasn't fully aware of the construction. As UNO, I attended many events and couldn't monitor everything."

When asked about his name being mentioned as the inaugurator, Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Awal said former UNO Shah Alam had informed him about the inauguration of a restaurant built in Manda at the initiative of local youths. 

"I did not get the time to go there. However, I was not clearly informed about my name being mentioned on a banner. Later, when the matter came to my attention, I called the youths and instructed them to remove the banner," he said.

"At the same time, they were told to operate the establishment with permission from the relevant authorities," he added.