SIRAJGANJ. Oct 9: A section ol politically backed unscrupulous quarter in conniv anee with the local administration are grabbing relic buildings and land which arc officially protected under the contro versial Vested Property Act.

Sirajganj is dotted with such relic buildings many of which have historical backgrounds and abandoned by 9 their owners between 1945 and 1965.

But thanks to the local registry' offices under the district administration. property worth Tk 25 crore has already been grabbed, sources said. Under the cover of lake papers, the grabbers have not only demolished scores of old buildings in the town, but also taken up projects to construct commercially lucrative structures.

In the process, the grabbers first obtained a lease of these "abandoned properties" from the district administration. But soon (he lease holders pro cured documents' and managed a decree' as 'genuine' owners.

The only a b a n (I o n e cl property that has not been grabbed Is the house of Dr Parboty Babu as it Is used as M o u I a n a Bhasanl Degree College. Admin-I s t r a t I o n sources said after the lease the administration even failed to collect the lease money.

/\mong others who left the country in 1946- 47, leaving behind huge properties are. Zamlndar Kalidash Chowdhury, Johorimole Dugor. Nabokumer Duduria. Jamki Debi Harilal Shaha, Khitlsh Vuson Ray and Surendro Nath Chowdury.