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Land Grabber demolished Temple and occupied Deity’s Property at Sonargaon PS, Narayanganj
To-day (30th September,03) I, Advocate Rabindra
Ghosh on behalf of HRCBM, Dhaka along with Ms.Laksmi Rani, a volunteer of HRCBM
proceeded to Panam Nagar of Sonargaon P.S. under Narayanganj District on receipt
of information published in the daily news paper “ Sangbad “ dated 29th
September,03 and “Ittefaq” dated 9th January,2003 that some land
grabbers namely 1)Moulvi Md.Mostafa, Advocate, 2) Md. Asadullah and 3) Md.
Suruj Meah most illegally demolished 200 years “ Gour Netai Bigraha Mandir “ on
1st part of January,03 situated at Panam Nagar and occupied 48
decimals of land and constructed tin structures thereon recently with a sign
board adjacent to reputed Durga Mandir belonging to Hindu Community of the
locality.
(Paper Cutting scanned)
Statements of O.C. Sonargaon P.S.
We reached Sonargaon Police Station at about 4.p.m. to know the situation. The Officer-in-Charge of Sonargaon P.S Mr.Nasir Chowdhury appraised us the situation and admitted facts that on the basis of a judgment and decree of 2nd Sub-Ordinate Judge court obtained by Ms.Asura Khatun, wife of Advocate Md. Mostafa , Md.Suruj Meah, Ex UP Member of the locality occupied the land and constructed tin sheds with a sign board covering the big tank consumed by Images of Goddess “ Durga Devi” that they are now the real owners of the land.
We along with O.C. Sonargaon reached the spot Dulalpur Mouza and found the illegal structures thereon. We talked with Biswanath Sen, Secretary of “Panam Poddar Gour Netai Bigraha Sarbajajin Puja Committee” who told us that Md.Suruj Meah, Md. Asad Ullah and 100 others demolished the 200 years old Temple on the Ist part of January,03 and started to create panic in the locality. He also told us in presence of O.C. that the land grabbers were trying to manufacture false deeds only with a view to grab “Debattor Properties “of the Deities covering a big tank used for the purpose of Deities of the locality. Due to forcible occupation of deity’s property they are not capable to celebrate puja this year. Biswanath Sen also showed us a copy of allegation which was filed as general diary entry in Sonargaon police station for necessary action. But the police did not take any action. I showed the copy of G.D. entry to the O.C. of Sonargaon and asked why action was not taken at that time. The O.C. replied that he was not In-Charge of Sonargaon police station at that material time and also as because the Committee did not file any specific case against the land grabbers the police did not take any cognizance in this matter and avoided most cleverly.
Statements of Land Grabber Md.Suruj Meah:
We also talked with Md.Suruj Meah Ex.U.P.Member of the locality son of late Reazuddin. Md. Suruj Meah became afraid as soon as the police was asking question about illegal structure on the deity’s property. He continued to say that the properties in question were sold out to him by some body by a registered deed and on that basis he has occupied the land. He totally denied that the properties are “ Debettor Property”. We showed him C.S and R.S. Record of the land belongs to “ Debalaya” . He also denied demolition of Temple therein. But statements of the local people and the records show that there is a Temple. Besides, there is sign of demolishing structures still on the spot. He could not reply satisfactorily on our query how he came to possession of the property and who handed him the possession. We recorded video-statements Md.Suruj Meah and other witnesses present during our investigation. We have also seen the judgment and decree of the court wherein we found that Ms. Asura Khatun did not make Shabeyet as party to the suit fradulently and as a result the case was decreed against the government not against the Shabeyet. So the judgment and decree obtained fraudulently by Ms.Asura Khatun wife of Advocate Moulavi Md.Mustafa is not binding upon the Shabeyet Committee. And as such a Title Suit against Ms Asura Khatun, Md. Asadullah , Md.Suruj Meah and the Government of Bangladesh praying for a declaration that the judgment and decree obtained fraudulently from the court of 2nd Subordinate Judge, Narayanganaj is not binding upon the present Managing Shabeyet Committee. The Title suit is pending in Narayanganj court for adjudication.
Debottor Property can not be alienated or transferred as per law of the land :
It is astonishing to note that the land grabbers in spite of having knowledge of the court’s summons occupied and constructed tin structures on the land and trying to grab 48 decimals of Debattor properties. Besides, the properties in question can not be declared as “Enemy Property” now vested property as per law of the land. But the officials of the Assistant Commissioner (Land) most illegally declared the Debettor property as Vested Property without any legal basis. This process of illegal transfer of landed properties is not only a single instance in this case but there are several instances of such fraudulent alienation of landed properties belonging to minority community in Bangladesh that requires strong resistance and full co-operation of the government officials and public.
However, the O.C. assured us that the tin-structures in the suit-Debettor properties adjacent to Durga Mandir should be removed for the smooth celebration of Durga Puja this year. But the O.C. did not assure us anything good regarding demolition of Temple by the land grabbers. Most probably he wanted to avoid this issue as the issue is apparently anti-social, anti-minority rights and also against International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial discrimination.
We came back from Sonargaon to Dhaka at about 11 p.m.
Prepared and submitted by:
Advocate Rabindra Ghosh,
HRCBM-Dhaka, Bangladesh