Serious allegations have been made against the Chittagong Port Authority of re-leasing the same encroachers instead of evicting them, ignoring the government’s order to vacate the banks of the Karnaphuli River. At the center of the allegations is the Port Authority’s Assistant Land Manager, Raihan Uddin. Documents say that despite clear orders to evict illegal encroachers, administrative power has been mysteriously misused to protect the interests of the encroachers.

The Chittagong Port Authority issued a government eviction notice on 02/06/25, clearly mentioning the illegal construction of a steel pontoon jetty, installation of container beds, installation of cranes and filling of the riverbed in the Madarbari Mouza area adjacent to the banks of the Karnaphuli River. It said that Haji Md. Ferdous Yusuf Gong has constructed a licensed jetty in the Majhirghat area, instead of building it in front of the leased land, but has built it in front of the leased land of Khan Saheb Abdul Hakim Mia Waqf Estate about 70′-0″ west. The survey and investigation report also said that a conveyor belt measuring 100′-0″ × 13′-0″ and 1 crane are being illegally installed with the barge for loading and unloading stones and other goods, which is completely illegal. In addition, during the construction of the boundary wall in 2019, the bank line of the river from the boundary wall (Bank Line) was 110-0″. The current survey shows that it has increased to 150′-0″. That is, after 2019, about 40′-0″ more space has been newly filled. Which is completely illegal and unlawful. In addition, the company has not paid the fine of 5,00,000/- (five lakh) taka to the CHBK since 2022 for using the additional river mouth without the approval of the Chittagong Port Authority. At that time, due to these irregularities, the company ordered to remove the newly built jetty and construct it in its proper place within 15 days of the issuance of the letter, remove the illegally installed conveyor belt and crane, and remove the soil from the filled area. Otherwise, the Chittagong Port Authority said that necessary legal action will be taken including cancellation of the license.

But the real picture is completely different. The eviction process has not even started at the field level, but under the direct supervision of Estate Officer Raihan, the same occupied land has been re-leased to a company named SS Trading. On 07/01/26, the same land measuring 14940 square feet on the river bank in Majhirghat area of ​​Madarbadi Mouza was shown as vacant and allowed to be used temporarily for 6 months on the basis of space rent. This renewal order was issued in a letter signed by Mohammad Raihan Uddin, Assistant Manager, Land (2) of Chittagong Port. When we went to the site, it was seen that although the letter mentioned this land as vacant, this land has never been vacant on paper at least since 2022. Such a huge crane, the side wall of the pad has been broken and the entire river has been merged with the pride of the river. The reason for mentioning this land as vacant in the letter is very mysterious! There are reports of its legalization in the transaction of a large amount of money, where there are rumors that this work was completed with the connivance of Raihan.
Didar, the main owner of S S Trading, was an influential member of the Chittagong City Jubo League and is known to have been hiding after the change of power after August 5. Locals are expressing surprise at how Didar, who built his own empire under the guise of SS Trading in the name of stone trading at Sadarghat and Majhir Ghat for 17 years, is still conducting these activities.
Experts say that the Karnaphuli River is the lifeline of the Chittagong Port. If the riverbank occupation and filling continues, it will create obstacles for the movement of large ships.
Locals allege that the river area has been occupied for a long time in collusion with influential circles. Whenever there is talk of eviction, the documents are turned over and legalized in the name of a lease. A local resident said, “Where the government is talking about freeing the river, the occupation is being legalized from within the port.”
When contacted to know how the land was renewed at the site of illegal eviction, Land Officer Raihan told the reporter that he has no jurisdiction to speak on this matter and it was decided by the higher authorities. In response to the question of whether he has signed the letter of renewal for 6 months, he told the reporter that a 2-acre land was supposed to be leased to SS Trading, a place behind the inter-contrade depot in Katghar area, later the government gave that place to MAERSK, and from a humanitarian point of view, SS Trading was given a lease of the riverbed of that river in Madarbadi side.
Although it was found that the place he is talking about was supposed to be leased to 3 other companies named GPH Isphat, Shah Cement, N Muhammad Trading, from a humanitarian point of view, no information was found that the Chittagong Port Authority had given them space elsewhere.
Moreover, recently, a fraudulent incident of giving land lease by use the name of an advisor has also occurred in the land section of Chittagong Port.
Morning Glory has received information about further irregularities and corruption in the land office, which will be published in a subsequent report.