Minister for Environment and Forest Tariqul Islam has directed the deputy commissioners (DCs) to take initiative for recovering the government land occupied by grabbers.

Addressing the DCs Conference 2006 at the Secretariat yesterday, he asked the DCs to reclaim the lands from the grabbers irrespective of their identities.

Initiative for legal action against the land grabbers, most of who are millionaire, does not work as they manage to obtain stay orders from the court, some DCs told the minister, adding that often the high-ups

including MPs lobby in favour of the grabbers.

The minister reminded them of the prime minister's directive to bring under justice whoever is involved in land grabbing.

About 1 lakh and 57 thousand acres of land is learnt to be illegally occupied in the country. Some very influential land grabbers occupy a large area of forest ministry land in Gazipur and Mymensingh districts.

The minister also asked the DCs to prevent cutting of hills, reemergence of polythene and unauthorised setting up of brick kilns.

DCS FOR CHARGE OF FERTILISER DISTRIBUTION

The DCs recommended that the responsibility of distributing fertiliser be given to them instead of the local MPs.

It will help to solve the problem of distribution, the DCs told Agriculture Minister MK Anwar yesterday.

Several DCs suggested engaging new dealers up to the union level for better distribution of fertiliser.

EXECUTIVE PROBE INTO POLICE 'ENCOUNTER'

State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar asked the DCs to send executive probe reports into the 'encounter' incidents as soon as possible.

He also asked the DCs to campaign for public awareness concerning the deadly bird flu.