Govt land for non-existant madrasa in Khagrachhari?
The people of a cluster village from a human chain in front of Khagrachhsri Press Club deamnding cancellation of 200 decimal land allotment for non-existant Nurani Girl's Academy. Photo: STAR
The district administration allocated 200 decimal lands of a cluster village for a non-existant madrasa under Sadar upazila here triggering resentment among the people. Some 85 landless families living on the land since 1986 are now fearing eviction following the allocation. Md Asgor Ali, 72, a settler, told The Daily Star that 85 Bangalee families were rehabilitated on the cluster village named “Shalbon Guchchhagram” in 1986 during insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). They have been living in the village on 200 decimals of land for the last 24 years. He said one Osman Gani alias Kari Osman claims to have taken lease of the land in 2000 in the name of a so called Nurani Girl's Academy, posing a threat to their stay on the land. He said they have formed a human chain in front of the Press Club on June 6 this year protesting allotment to the non-existant madrasa and its cancellation. But, the administration is yet to take any action in this regard, he added. Md Sekandar Ali, 65, a resident of the cluster village, alleged that the then deputy commissioner AKM Zafrul Hossen was the man behind leasing out of the land to the madrasa in a bid to evict them from the village. He said they have demanded cancellation of the land allotment in the name of a fake madrasa and new allotment for those who have been living there for over two decades. Kari Osman, director of “Nurani Girl's Academy”, admitted that there is no academy or madrasa. He, however, said he has a plan to set up a madrasa to teach girls Islamic education. He said the administration allocated 200 decimals of land considering his 'noble intention' and it can also cancel the allotment if it thinks it is an act of fraudulence. Osman said it is khas land and deputy commissioner has the authority to allot such land for any educational institution. Mohammad Anwar Hossen, acting mayor of Khagrachhari Municipality, said he does not know who is Kari Osman and there was no existence of so-called Nurani Girl's Academy. He also become astonished to hear that the then deputy commissioner allotted 200 decimals of land for the fake madrasa. “Where would these 85 families go and who would rehabilitate them?” he asked. Former Khagrachhari Hill District Council chairman and local lawmaker Zatindra Lal Tripura said he has written a letter on January 31, 2000 to the secretary of establishment ministry to take action against the officials responsible, including the then DC and ADC. Zatindra said he would inform the matter to authorities concerned to get the allotment to the so-called madrasa cancelled considering fate of these 85 families. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anisul Hoque Bhuiyan said a case was field by the villagers with district sessions and judge's court in 2005 against the allotment. He said they would take necessary steps following the court order.
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