A multi-storey concrete house is being constructed on land classified as government-owned (khas land) in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia allegedly by a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader.

Md Abu Taleb Hossain, ameer of Char-Sadipur Union Jamaat and a chairman candidate for the upcoming union parishad election, is allegedly constructing the house on around 2.82 acres of land in Gobindapur Mouza of the union.

According to local residents and land administration officials, the property is recorded under Khatian No. 1 and RS Plot No. 68 and is classified as Schedule-Kha government land.

Locals estimate the market value of the land at around Tk 6 crore.

A visit to the area found that the ground-floor roof of the concrete house had already been cast, while construction materials were lying around the site. The house is reportedly being built after filling the low-lying land with sand.

According to court documents, Abu Taleb filed Civil case No. 198/2018 with the Assistant Judge’s Court in Kumarkhali in 2018, seeking correction of land records and claiming ownership of the property.

The court dismissed the case on May 5, 2024, for lack of valid supporting documents, according to an order signed by Assistant Judge Md Mehedi Hasan.

Abu Taleb subsequently filed an appeal, registered as Appeal Case No. 117/24, according to the documents.

Local residents alleged that construction of the house continued despite the pending appeal.

Abu Taleb denied the allegations of wrongdoing. He said there were errors in the RS records and that although the 2018 case had been dismissed, he had filed an appeal and the matter was now sub judice.

When asked whether construction was permissible on the disputed land while the appeal was pending, he declined to comment.

Hafizul Islam, a neighbour of Abu Taleb, said he had heard that the land had been declared khas land, but he was unaware of the legal status of the ongoing construction.

Another local resident, Shahidul Islam, said construction of the house had begun recently but declined to comment further.

A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that Abu Taleb had used his influence to construct the house on government land and demanded immediate action to protect the property.

Habibur Rahman, land officer of Shelaidah Union, said an inspection was recently conducted and construction work was stopped.

He said RS Plot No. 68 was government land, while Plot No. 69 was privately owned. However, he said the exact status of the land would have to be determined through a formal survey.

He added that, based on the preliminary inspection, it appeared that a house was being constructed on government land.

Farzana Akter, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said there was no provision for constructing houses on khas government land.

She said the survey process had been delayed slightly due to a shortage of manpower but assured that necessary action would be taken soon.