Leave Kalapathor Math, the lone playground, out of occupation
Demands human chain in Sylhet town
Locals of the city's Ambarkhana area yesterday formed a human chain in front of Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar to press for their demand for protecting Kalapathor Math, the lone playground in the area, from being occupied.
Several hundred people, carrying banners and placards, joined the programme organised by Kalapathor Math Rakkha Parishad, Kheloar Kalyan Samity of Ward No 5 and Surma Boys' Club.
Anwar Hossain, president of Surma Boys' Club, said they will soon announce fresh agitation programme to save the playground.
Water Development Board (WDB) sources said 15 acres of land were acquired in 1966 for building quarters for WDB staff and other purposes. The playground is an extended part of the land belonging to the WDB complex in the city's Ambarkhana area, he added.
One Abdus Sattar alias Bachha Miah and 75 others filed a case with a Sylhet court in 2002, claiming the ownership of 8.25 acres on the land. The court rejected their claim in 2005.
Later, one Baratunnesa and 89 others filed a writ petition with the High Court for getting back 6.6 acres of land on Kalapathor Math. They claimed that they got no compensation for their land acquired by the government in the 60s.
On June 1 this year, they got decree from a High Court bench in their favour. The bench comprising Justice Mifta Uddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Alam directed the respondents to return the land to the petitioners within three months from the day of receipt of the copy of judgement.
Contacted, WDB Executive Engineer Shailendra Chandra Sarker said they have received the copy of the judgement this week and sought permission of the Supreme Court to file an appeal with the apex court.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Shamim Al Razi said 15 acres of land were acquired for the then WAPDA (now WDB) in 1966. Since then, they have been paying land development tax.
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