Ex-Advisor Clears Neighbours to Build Road

The recently outgoing interim government’s former Adviser on Industry, Housing and Public Works, Adilur Rahman Khan, long presented himself as a champion of people’s rights. Yet, allegations have surfaced that he has exploited his position to infringe upon the property and rights of his neighbours for personal convenience. Despite a functioning government road providing access to his residence, Mr Khan is accused of forcibly evicting residents and constructing a new road leading directly to his home.

Local residents have expressed strong objections, asserting that the road was unnecessary. The project reportedly cost nearly 10 million Bangladeshi Taka (approximately £70,000) for the construction of a 402-metre stretch. Authorities claim standard regulations were not strictly followed. While the original plan approved a 12-foot-wide road, sections were expanded to 16 feet, and in some areas, widths reached 18–19 feet.

According to ground reports and the Upazila Engineering Office, Mr Khan’s ancestral residence is located in Bhuiyapara, Sologhor Union, Shreenagar Upazila, Munshiganj. Currently, no family members reside there. A well-maintained 10-foot road already exists from Sologhor Bus Stand to his property, yet the new construction appears to have been undertaken solely for private convenience.

Road Construction Details

Residents allege that Mr Khan leveraged the Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Land Commissioner to place government leasehold signs on neighbouring properties, even installing electricity poles within private premises. He also reportedly constructed a bridge to benefit a childhood friend’s business. Multiple neighbours claim that their ancestral homes were forcibly demolished under the pretext of leasehold authority, despite there being no genuine public need for the road. Those who protested were allegedly silenced with threats of legal action.

One affected resident, Rubel, said, “The branch road from Sologhor Bus Stand is already 10 feet wide, yet he built a 17-foot road to access his home. Our house was demolished and leasehold signs were installed through the district administration. Only after media coverage were the signs removed. If it was legitimate leasehold land, why remove them later?” Another resident added, “This was my ancestral property. My tenants were intimidated and forced out, and no compensation or discussion took place.”

Local inhabitants point out that a 50-year-old road already existed in the area, making the new construction unnecessary. Contractor Saifur Rahman explained, “The road was initially approved at 12 feet, but vehicles had difficulty passing, so some sections were expanded to 16–20 feet with authorisation from the project director and district administration. I have not yet been paid for the extra work.”

Shreenagar Upazila Engineer, Md Mahiful Islam, stated, “We supervised the construction to ensure quality, though the District Engineer can provide more details.” Attempts to reach Munshiganj District Commissioner Syeda Nurmohol Ashrafi were unsuccessful, and Mr Khan could not be contacted for comment.