PM tells land ministry to be 'tough on land grabbers'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has termed real estate companies putting up 'sign boards on water bodies' 'land grabbers' and instructed the land ministry to go'tough' on them.

She went to the land ministry at the Secretariat on Thursday.

"Many are occupying land by putting up a sign board on water bodies. There are some land grabbers who procure an acre of land and grab another acre.

“They go after those who protest," Hasina said speaking at a meeting with ministry officials.

Without taking any names, she said some these companies abuse power as they own television channels and newspapers.

The prime minister instructed officials to get 'tough' on these companies.

"They are so powerful; they own media, newspapers. They label those as thieves who protest.

"What's more unfortunate is that we have approved these (tv stations)," added Hasina.

Thirteen TV channels got approval during the polls-time government last year. East West Media Group's 'News 24' also got the greenlight.

Sayem Sobhan is the managing director of the channel. He is the son of real estate bigwig Bashundhara Group's Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan

East West Media Group owns two Bengali dailies, 'Kaler Kantho' and 'Bangladesh Pratidin', English newspaper the Daily Sun and an online outlet, banglanews24.com.

Earlier in July last year, another real estate big player, Jamuna Group's withheld licence for a news channel got clearance, which went on air in April this year. The group also owns a Bengali daily, 'Jugantor'.

The two groups are the behemoths in Bangladesh’s real estate sector. The groups are often at loggerheads.

They formed a joint venture in a real estate project a few years ago, which did not take off, though.