Dispute over trade fair ground, SAU signboards disappear
- The Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Sher e Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) had put up signboards claiming ownership of the ground
- The divisional commissioner’s office is being built on this ground
The signboard was put up by SAU at the trade fair ground. It is no longer there. Photo: Agamir Somoy
A month-long trade fair used to be held every January at the ground adjacent to Agargaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar areas of the capital. The ground remained largely unused during the rest of the year. After the trade fair was moved to its permanent venue in Purbachal on the other side of the capital, the ground has remained vacant throughout the year.
A dispute over ownership of the vacant ground began after the July mass uprising. On one side is the government and on the other is Sher e Bangla Agricultural University (SAU). Both sides put up signboards claiming ownership of the ground. However, two signboards put up by SAU have not been seen for several days.
The university authorities said they know nothing about the matter. They also said that although a long time has passed since they applied to the DC office to obtain possession of the ground, they have not yet received any official response.
During a visit to the ground on Tuesday afternoon, it was found that the Army had planted trees along the western edge of the ground. Kash flowers were blooming at various places. Local people were sitting and chatting in the shade under the trees. Tea and biscuits were being sold at a makeshift shop there.
It was also seen that two signboards put up by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works at the two ends of the ground remained intact. The SAU signboards were missing.
When asked people around the ground about the matter, they said they had no idea who had removed the signboards.
The ground is located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Mouza and covers 29.79 acres. The area had been under the supervision of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
According to sources concerned, SAU claimed the ground as its own after August 5, 2024. An application was then submitted to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the then interim government, seeking to hand over the ground to the university. Signboards were also put up at the ground.
The signboard read, “Research Field, (Entry Restricted), Sher e Bangla Agricultural University, Sher e Bangla Nagar, Dhaka 1207.” Former students of the university also put up a separate signboard.
The university authorities claimed that when SAU’s land was acquired, the entire area including the adjacent Planning Commission and ministry, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, China Friendship Conference Center and the trade fair ground was included. However, they did not raise the issue at the time because the government decided to build the Planning Commission, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and other facilities there. Since the ground is now vacant, they said the time has come to take possession of it.
SAU Registrar Nazrul Islam told Agamir Somoy, “At one time, our land extended up to Khamarbari. We had 500 acres of land across the entire Sher e Bangla Nagar area. Now it has gradually decreased to 87 acres. We want this land to be returned to us.”
The SAU registrar said receiving the land would facilitate research activities. He said, “If we get it, it would be easier for us to conduct our research activities. Because our research fields are limited compared to the number of students. However, we will accept whatever decision the government makes.”
Regarding the signboards, he said, “Our students had put up the signboards. I do not know who removed the signboards. And we have not yet received any official response regarding the application we submitted to the Dhaka DC office.”
Meanwhile, after seeing SAU’s efforts to take possession of the ground, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works also put up two signboards. They read, “The owner of this land is the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh through the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Construction of any kind of illegal structure on this land is a legally punishable offense. By order, Public Works Department.”
The Ministry of Housing and Public Works said, “This is our land. It will not be enough for someone to simply claim it. There are laws and regulations.”
However, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works claimed that it does not know who removed SAU’s signboards.
Divisional Commissioner’s Office to Be Built on This Ground
The Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s own office is being built in Sher e Bangla Nagar in the capital. For this purpose, the Ministry of Public Administration has proposed a project titled “Construction of Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office Building in Sher e Bangla Nagar.” The estimated cost of the project is Tk 308.08 crore.
The Planning Commission has already held a Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting on the proposal. After processing, if it is approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), the Ministry of Public Administration and the Department of Housing will implement the project from January 2027 to December 2029.
The project proposal said Dhaka Division is one of the country’s most important administrative regions. The Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office plays an important role in coordinating between the central government and field administration, supervising various government activities at the divisional level, managing the administration of field administration officials, revenue related activities, various meetings and coordination activities, as well as implementing the government’s policies and development programs. The Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office is currently located in Segunbagicha.
It further said there is a shortage of space in the existing building as it does not have sufficient room for officials and employees. As a result, administrative activities cannot be conducted smoothly and effectively. In this context, an initiative has been taken to construct an office structure on 2.37 acres of land allocated for the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office in the administrative area of Sher e Bangla Nagar in Agargaon. A 10-story office building with two basements will be constructed on the allocated land to create an adequate and modern working environment for the Dhaka divisional administration.
