Land Grabbing in Pabna: District admin to probe allegation against MP’s son

Pabna-1 lawmaker Samsul Haque Tuku's son Nafis Sams has allegedly grabbed vast government land beside the Jamuna in the district's Bera upazila and forcibly removed landless people from the area.

The district administration recently kicked off an investigation after receiving complaints from locals.

Meanwhile, the accused, in a press conference held at the Pabna press club yesterday, claimed that he only took initiatives to "develop the area" by establishing a university, a college, and a power plant.

He also claimed that a group of criminals was operating drug businesses and sand lifting illegally in the area.

"I have moved forward to remove the illegal sand lifters and drug traders aiming to launch educational institutions and an energy plant for the sake of the people," he said.

Talking to The Daily Star, Bera pouro unit Awami League President Abdul Mannan Manu said Nafis bought some land beside the river while grabbing huge khas land.

Nafis also hanged a signboard of "Soudia Agro Solar PV Power Plant" for grabbing the land, he said.

Nafis, along with his men on March, 12, went to the spot and forcibly removed the landless people who were living beside flood protection embankment in Bera municipality's Paina area.

They also damaged the croplands in the area only for grabbing the land, Manu alleged.

Locals, however, submitted a written complaint to the deputy commissioner of the district yesterday, protesting the land grabbing by the son of the lawmaker.

Kabir Mahamud, the deputy commissioner of Pabna, told The Daily Star that they received the written complaint and took initiatives to investigate the allegations.

"I have already ordered the Bera upazila nirbahi officer to investigate the matter." The DC said.

Refuting the allegation against him, Nafis, however, told the journalists that he had plans to establish a university primarily named Lutfunnesa University of Agriculture and Information Technology, a college named Bir Muktizuddha Samsul Haque Tuku Technical College, and Soudia Agro Solar Power Plant in the area.

He also alleged that Manu's men were demanding extortion from him and creating obstacles to disrupt the development work.

Refuting the allegation, Manu said he was never involved in the sand lifting business or extortion.

"When the son of the lawmaker and his men are grabbing government properties in the area, I protested them," Manu said.

Vising the spot a few days ago, journalists found the men of the lawmaker's son hanged signboard and started construction beside the river.