Sikder Group constructs illegal structure in Kuakata

The authorities of Sikder Resort and Villas, a subsidiary of Sikder Group, have been constructing an illegal structure near the Kuakata sea beach defying multiple removal notices issued by the local administration.

According to the Kalapara upazila land office, construction of the structure began on 800sqft of government-owned khas land a year ago in front of the Kuakata National Park in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali.

Informed, Kalapara Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Jagatbandhu Mondal served a notice to the authorities of Sikder Resort on July 8, 2019, to remove the illegal structure within seven days.

Kalapara Upazila Land Office also sent a letter on the same day to the Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner's (DC) Office, requesting necessary legal action for removing the illegal establishment.

However, the encroachers ignored the notice and continued on with the construction work.

According to construction workers, the structure will be turned into a coffee house for Sikder Group's resort.

The resort's Account Manager Md Shaheen acknowledged they received the removal notice on July 17, 2019.

Faisal Ahmed Chowdhury, general manager of Sikder Resort, on June 8, 2020, said, he had just recently joined and so couldn’t get into details about everything at this moment.

Kalapara Upazila AC (Land) Jagatbandhu Mondal said: “After getting instruction from the DC, we have served the final notice to Sikder Resort on June 10 [this year] ordering removal of the illegal structure within 30 days of receiving the notice. If they do not comply, we will take legal action.”

When asked about not taking action against the illegal construction work in the last one year, Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Matiul Islam Chowdhury said due to the shutdown driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, they were unable to take any action.