On-the-spot report of Janali Hat station in Chittagong

Salam is making lakhs of takas a month by constructing slums in the place of railways. The officials do not have any information about this misdeed

Passenger Voice    |    ০৫:৫৮ পিএম, ২০২০-০৯-১৮

Special Correspondent: The real estate management policy of Bangladesh Railway-2017 has asked the divisional  real estate officer of the railways to evict the illegal occupants of the railway land under his jurisdiction and bring the railway land under the control of Bangladesh Railway and the government. The concerned divisional railway manager, chief engineer, general manager, railway police and railway security forces should be given full cooperation in the eviction activities. 

However, when the guard becomes a eater, if the station master in charge of a station makes illegal installations in the place of the railway, then it is also the responsibility of these officers to look after them. But who cares about the illegal occupation of these dishonest station masters of the railways. 

On-the-spot report of Janali Hat station by Passenger Voice.

Janali Hat Station master Abdus Salam Bhuiyan has become the leader overnight by forming the underground organization Bangladesh Railway Traffic Employees Unity Council. He was transferred to this station by providing fears to the departmental transport officials as he became a leader. Started building illegal slums in place of railways. Collection of monthly masowara, commission trade without making employees duty. His organization is not known anywhere in the country rather than Pahartali. Abdus Salam traded various lobbies and transfers under the name of this organization. 

The raw market has been set up on the railway line under the authority of this officer of Station Master Grade-3. Daily subscriptions are made in his name. He is doing such work every day with a cashier named Sujan. Although section 144 is always in force in the area of 10 feet by 20 feet on both sides of the railway line, the traders of the raw market are always violating this law by setting up shops on the railway line. Meanwhile, there is no frown of the railway authorities. Due to the fact that the law is limited to books and documents and there is no minimum application of it, the business of raw market in railways has become a very normal picture.

Sources said that according to Section 12 of Act No. 5 of 181, entry of common people or cattle in the area of 10 feet on either side of the railway line is strictly prohibited except for railway workers. Section 144 is always in force in that area. Anyone found within that boundary can be arrested under Section 101 of the Act. But the railway police do not enforce the law for fear of causing trouble.

How dishonest officials earn lakhs of takas a month by building shops and slums on railway land:

There are about 30 government houses in Jan Ali Hat station area out of which five are allotted. The rest have been illegally hired by outsiders at the behest of some unscrupulous railway employees from whom Masohara gets IW Sholashahar including the station master. IW's in charge of the matter  Farooq told the passenger voice that he did not know anything about this. The station master can tell. But it is known from the news that it is the responsibility of this officer to take care of them. They are reluctant to talk to journalists about all this because of the bribe.

From the head of Kaptai Road towards Jan Ali Hat Station, one can see rows and rows of illegal tin shed houses and shops. According to the information given by the locals, station master Abdus Salam takes one to one and a half thousand takas per month for each house and shop. He also built a huge slum with a pond next to the railway line where there are 60 to 70 illegal houses. He collects tk 1 lakh to tk 1,500 per month from each house.

However, Janali Hat Station Master Abdus Salam Bhuiyan told Passenger Voice, " I did not do all these illegal occupations  the ruling party in power occupies them. Among the occupiers are former mayor's people, Chittagong Metropolitan Juba League convener Mohiuddin Bachchu and Chatro legue leaders. Not only me but also senior officials are helpless to them. He also admitted that the government house was illegally occupied.

There are even allegations that the station master has sold some shops in front of the gate house at the head of Kaptai Road. Abdus Salam, who has been involved in various misdeeds, has not signed the Train Signal Register (TSR) on duty since he joined Jan Ali Hat station two years ago. 

Abdus Salam's comments on senior officials and journalists:

It can be heard in the station area that the station master claims to be the general secretary of the Bangladesh Railway Traffic Employees Unity Council and tells various people that everything is done if the money is given to the senior officials of Railway. I do not take the money that is earned by setting up illegal slums and markets. All officers take. Besides, he has spread rumors in the station area that he pays money to some  yellow journalists. Again, many see illegal slums and markets on the railway line and believe that if Salam had not paid the higher authority money, the senior officials would not have endured his corruption year after year. Abdus Salam was also seen roaming around the office of Divisional Transport Officer Snehashis Das Gupta during office hours in recent times. It is learned that he went to this officer at different times with different lobbies.

In addition, the officer gives leave to three gatekeepers named Lovely Barua, Bakul and Lokman without paying duty at a monthly rate of Tk 24,000. Many people think that this is possible, but the well-wishers say that if they pay 50 percent of the salary to the station master without coming to work, it is the benefit of the gatemen. Because they can earn more money by working elsewhere at this time. 

DTO Snehashis Das Gupta, head of the railway traffic department, told Passenger Voice that he was not aware of setting up markets on the railway line and building slums along the line. "I will take appropriate action if such irregularities occur," he said.

Sardar Shahadat Ali, General Manager (Additional Responsibility),Railway (east) told Passenger Voice, " I will look into the matter if I get specific information."