Allegations of Land Seizure Against Krishak Dal Leader in Patuakhali

Bangla Press Desk:  A minority family has alleged assault, intimidation and attempts to grab their land by local influential people, including a new Krishak Dal leader, in Marichbunia union under the Patuakhali sadar upazila.

At a press conference held at the Patuakhali Press Club on Saturday noon, victim Gopal Majhi read out a written statement detailing the allegations.He said some locals had long been trying to forcibly occupy their recorded and possessed land. According to him, he owns about 40 decimals of land in the Marichbunia mouza area. He alleged that due to the land dispute, several people including local Awami League leader and now a member of BNP's farmers' wing the Bangladesh Krishak Dal, Zakir Bhuiyan, along with Suman Payda, Nasir Akon, Harun Matbar, Jafar Bhuiyan and Nizam Payda, have repeatedly threatened him and his family.

Majhi claimed that even after filing a complaint with police, the accused came to his house with sharp weapons, threatened them and obstructed his children from going to school. He also alleged they were threatened to leave the country for India.

In the written statement, he said that around 9pm on 16 February, the accused intercepted him while he was returning home by motorcycle, assaulted him and tried to kill him with local weapons. He and his brother were seriously injured and are now undergoing treatment at Patuakhali Sadar Hospital.

He further alleged that the attackers snatched Tk2.2 lakh in cash and two gold chains from him during the incident. He named Zakir Bhuiyan, Suman Payda and Nasir Akon as accused and claimed that 7–8 unidentified persons were also involved.

“We have been harassed in various ways for being a minority. We feel insecure and want quick administrative intervention and punishment of the culprits,” Majhi said.

Responding to the allegations, Zakir Bhuiyan said his son-in-law Suman bought the land about five years ago and built a house there. He also claimed the matter had earlier been settled through local arbitration and denied giving any threat to force them to go to India.

Officer-in-Charge of Patuakhali Sadar Police Station, Moniruzzaman, said police were aware of the clash and one person had previously been arrested. However, he added that no complaint had been received regarding threats to leave for India. Legal action will be taken if complaints are filed, he said.

Source: daily Sun

BP/SP.