A project for landless about to make an FF's family landless
The family members of martyred freedom fighter Abdul Khaleq are passing time amid fear of losing their last shelter as a rehabilitation project at Char Ganga in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district has already occupied most of their 2.5 acres of land. Inset Martyred freedom fighter Abdul KhaleqPhoto: STAR
A martyred freedom fighter's family has lost most of their 2.5-acre government allocated land at Char Ganga in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district as the upazila administration has occupied it for a rehabilitation project. Under the project on 10 acres of land, the upazila administration illegally occupied the land of the freedom fighter's family, ignoring a status quo order issued by the court, says a probe report of Patuakhali district administration. Abdul Khaleq, then working as a signalman in the then East Pakistan Rifles, was killed by Pakistan occupation army during the Liberation War and the gazette issued by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs on June 15, 2004 mentions him as a martyred freedom fighter. After Khaleq's death, his wife Sajeda Begum with her son and two daughters took shelter at his father's house as Khaleq was a landless man. After independence, the then government gave 2.50 acres of land to Shamim, son of late Khaleq at Char Ganga under Galachipa upazila and it was recorded in 19978-79 fiscal year with kabuliat deed No 445. Crops produced on the land served as earning source of the poor family. Meanwhile, Galachipa upazila administration undertook a project to rehabilitate landless families on 10 acres of land in 2006-07 fiscal year and 1.50 acres of land belonging to the martyred freedom fighter's family was occupied for the purpose. Protesting the matter, Shamim on January 14 in 2007 submitted a written allegation to Patuakhali deputy commissioner (DC) who asked Galachipa upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) to take necessary action after investigation. As no step was taken, the victim submitted another allegation to the Patuakhali DC on April 24 in 2009 with recommendation of ASM Feroz, whip of Jatiya Sangsad, also lawmaker from Patuakhali-2 (Baufal). The DC again instructed the Galachipa UNO for necessary action but to no effect. Following a case filed by Shamim, the Assistant Judge's Court in Galachipa declared illegal occupation of his land for the project and issued a permanent status quo in this regard. Neglecting the court order, the upazila administration completed the project and built eight barracks to rehabilitate 80 landless families there. After getting the court's judgment, the DC asked additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Md Shah Alam Sarder to investigate the matter. The ADC submitted his report to the DC on July 28 this year, saying that the demand of the martyred freedom fighter's family is valid. "We want to get back the land that the government allocated for us. We also demand legal steps against the people responsible for occupying our land," said the martyred freedom fighter's wife Sajeda Begum, now living at her son-in-law's (daughter's husband) house at Boga Bazar under Baufal upazila. The victim family has sought the prime minister's intervention to get solution in the matter. When contacted, ADC Shah Alam Sarder said, "We have already asked the Galachipa UNO to take steps to solve the problem."
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