The Chattogram district administration has reclaimed 65 decimals of land owned by the Bangladesh Tea Board in the cityâs Bayezid Bostami area, following an eviction drive against Modern Steel Mills Limited.
The operation was conducted on 8 January under the supervision of Executive Magistrate Hossain Mohammad. Officials estimate the market value of the recovered government land to exceed Tk 200 crore.
Tea Board authorities said the landâlocated adjacent to the Bayezid Bostami shrineâhad originally been leased to Modern Steel Mills in 2008. The most recent lease agreement, renewed in 2018, expired on 31 December 2022.
Despite the expiry, the company allegedly continued occupying the land by exerting political influence, while also failing to clear outstanding rent of about Tk 2.24 crore, according to Tea Board sources.
Speaking to reporters during the drive, Tea Board Joint Secretary Mohammad Moazzem Hossain said the organisation had long been trying to recover the land, but legal petitions filed by the occupiers delayed the process.
He added that although the High Court ordered the company on 1 June 2025 to clear its dues within a month, the directive was ignored. Tea Board officials were also reportedly threatened with âfalse casesâ to obstruct eviction attempts.
After the expiry of a final 15-day stay order, the district administration, assisted by police and army personnel, carried out the eviction and restored possession of the land to the government.
The Tea Board now plans to construct its new headquarters and residential facilities for employees on the recovered site.
