499.79 acres of Assam land slips to B'desh

Assam Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman got candid with the media on saturday when he disclosed that Bangladesh has illegally occupied about 499.79 acres of land in the state. According to him, the occupied lands were in Dhubri and Karimganj districts. Barman said said in Dhubri district 189.06 acres in Goroibari under Mankachar subdivision and in Karimganj district two tea gardens--299 acres of Pallatol Tea garden and 11.73 acres of Promodnagar tea garden were illegally occupied. The neighbouring country was yet to hand over the land to Assam, the minister said. The occupied territory were in their possession since 1948 under the then East Pakistan and despite several attempts by both the Centre and state government.