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Bangla Press Desk: Local residents have staged protests alleging that the Ananda Housing project has been developed illegally on their land. Demonstrators demanded the immediate suspension of all project activities, the restoration of landowners’ rights, and a halt to any development that infringes upon those rights. A human chain and protest march were held at 11:00am on Saturday in front of the project’s gate in the Gutiyabo Namapara area of Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj district.
Residents allege that the project’s owner, Gazi Mozammel Haque, a former Additional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police, used his influence to seize land belonging to ordinary people across at least ten areas, including Gutiyabo, Madhukhali, Suriyabo, Jangir, Agarpura and Namapara under Rupganj Sadar Union. The land was reportedly filled with sand after being forcibly occupied, and five canals, including a major canal, were also filled in. According to locals, the land was taken without compensating the original owners.Haji Solaiman Mia of Namapara said Mozammel had taken over nine bighas of his ancestral land. He added that despite seeking help from various places, he received no response. He previously operated a fish farm, which has since been filled in, leaving him to survive by working on others’ land, while his son works as a mason. He said his family is now living in severe hardship.
Another victim, Anwar Hossain, claimed that all access roads to the area have been blocked, leaving more than 10,000 people effectively waterlogged and unable to move freely. Residents are reportedly prevented from reaching upazila offices, police stations or land offices, and elderly women in particular are unable to travel due to the situation.
Locals further allege that Ananda Housing maintains a group of hired enforcers who openly threaten landowners with death, and that anyone speaking against Gazi Mozammel faces attack. Protesters also claimed that police have failed to provide assistance when approached. They alleged that even the land on which a police outpost stands was not properly purchased, with forged documents used to fabricate ownership, and that rightful landowners have been imprisoned and tortured.
Haji Amanullah stated that although the project is presented as “Ananda Police Housing”, it has no official connection with the police. He alleged that the name and influence of powerful individuals were used to justify land grabbing, including the occupation of government-owned land. Protesters warned that if their land is not returned, they will escalate their movement, including blockading the 300-feet road. The demonstration was later dispersed by police.Investigations suggest that Gazi Mozammel Haque allegedly built a vast network of wealth worth hundreds of crores of taka through land grabbing, river filling, and misuse of influence over a career spanning around 26 years. In Rupganj alone, he is said to control a housing project covering approximately 3,000 bighas of land. Adjacent to it lies a roughly 100-bigha garden estate valued at about Tk1.65 billion. He also reportedly owns 175 bighas of land in Bandarban used for agarwood cultivation, as well as extensive holdings in the Jinda Park area and additional land in Narayanganj Sadar registered in a relative’s name. A pharmaceutical company, Bridge Pharmaceuticals, is registered in his wife’s name on 31 per cent of land in Sarulia Tengra, Demra. Additional assets, including a resort on the Meghna River in Cumilla and properties in Sunamganj, have also been identified.
According to documents, his family owns approximately 3,500 bighas of land across the country, much of which has been transferred into his wife’s name—a practice experts say is often used to evade scrutiny during investigations. Allegations suggest that landowners were forced to sell at nominal prices under threat of legal action, harassment, or torture in remand. Several victims reported that complaints to various administrative authorities produced no results.
Sources at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said allegations have been raised against Mozammel and his wife, Farzana Mozammel, over the accumulation of wealth inconsistent with known sources of income. ACC officials confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and that both have been asked to submit statements of assets, which are now under review. On 19 February last year, a court ordered the seizure of 65 bighas of land in Mozammel’s name, along with several properties owned by his wife and daughter, Gazi Bushra Tabassum. The court also ordered the freezing of 28 bank accounts linked to them.
