100 house owners demand arrest of land grabber

A total of 516 house owners in Ward No. 74 and 77 of Wari Mouza fell victim to such harassment by one Rafiqullah, who is reportedly a manpower agent, they said at a press conference.

They also sought the prime minister's intervention to expose the organised network involved in such illegal practice.

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The house owners said their families were living in the houses for about 50 to 100 years but they have received notices from land settlement office recently after Rafiqullah filed a complaint claiming the ownership of the houses.

The victims have been protesting the illegal attempt for over last 15 days. They also formed a 'Committee to Resist Land Grabber'.

"It is not understandable to us how he (Rafiqullah) can claim ownership of 516 houses with different holding numbers through a single document No. 2937," said journalist Mataz Bilkis Banu, convenor of the committee.

She also questioned his claim to have been taking care of the 'Debottor' property (land donated for temple) of one Gour Hari Karmaker since 1907.

Advocate Aminul Islam, a house owners, said that when they approached to the land settlement office asking how they served such unlawful notice, they replied they have done everything on order from the ministry.

SK Ezharul Haque, Rustam Ali Siraji, Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Awlad Hossain Chakladar and Farhad Hossain Jhontu were present at the conference held at the National Press Club.

Rafiqullah was not available for his comments despite repeated calls.