Authority of Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) – the first private EPZ in the country, demands immediate demarcation of land preserved as graveyards outside its acquired land. The authority made the demand at a press conference on Sunday as vested quarters erected pillars and barbed wire fencing around seven acres of KEPZ acquired land at four spots since the 21st February in a bid to grab those claiming to be falling inside graveyards and madrasa land. Through instigating locals the vested quarters also kept the Gate No 2 besieged barring movement of staffs and officials and hindering operation of factories inside KEPZ since February 28, alleged the KEPZ officials at the press conference held at KEPZ dormitory and office block. With the help of a few former KEPZ staffs, who were sacked on disciplinary ground, and miscreants from outside, they are staging showdown even inside KEPZ hampering development of industrial plots and other activities seriously for the last few days, they alleged. The KEPZ officials blamed neighbouring Boirag Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Nawab Ali and Baro Uthan UP Chairman Didarul Alam for leading the evil move, which is feared to discourage potential foreign investment in the country’s first private EPZ as well. The vested quarters filed a case claiming 6.67 acres of land with Patiya Joint-District Judge Court. As the case was dismissed by the court in March 2010, they made a writ petition to the High Court. Having the petition rejected by the High Court on January 18 this year, the land grabbers encircled 5.95 acres of land at Guapanchak and at South Block of KEPZ in the early hours of 21st February. They also raised pillars and barbed wire fencing around more than one acres of land at two more spots on March 5 night, said KEPZ officials. Concerned Karnaphuli police station recorded the complaint of KEPZ neither as general diary nor FIR, they alleged. KEPZ authority filed a case with a metropolitan magistrate on March 4 when the court proceedings started amid hartal and lodged another case with ADM court in this regard, they added. We have informed both police and district administration of the matter and have been waiting for decision and affective steps by them,” said KEPZ Managing Director Mohammad Hasan Nasir at the press conference. We want directions from the authority concerned and demand immediate demarcation of the land preserved as graveyards or religious establishments outside KEPZ acquired land,” he said. Claiming that KEPZ authority had sent 13 letters and memos over the last two years in this matter, the KEPZ MD said, We want cooperation from all concerned for the sake of industrial development and for not discouraging foreign investment.” KEPZ would be able to create employment of some 50,000 people in the next two years if everything goes well, they claimed.
