Authorities in Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj have reclaimed government land worth around Tk 4 crore from illegal occupation near Khilakanda area of Togar Haor. The eviction drive was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Sanjay Ghosh on Wednesday afternoon, who ordered the occupants to vacate the land immediately and marked the area with red flags.

According to local sources, about two years ago, at least 11 residents of Chakiya Chapur village, including Khurshed Alam Bhuiyan, had submitted an application to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer demanding removal of illegal occupiers. The operation had been delayed for various reasons. Bhuiyan said 20–30 influential individuals had occupied the land and damaged natural resources by cutting trees from the Hijolbagan area. Locals expressed satisfaction with the administration’s action.

Assistant Commissioner Ghosh stated that this was the largest land recovery operation of its kind in the area and that similar drives against illegal occupation would continue.