80 trees axed to avenge protest at land grabbing
SAVAGE VENGEANCE! Criminals felled around 80 litchi and mango trees at this orchard in Borogachha village of Phulbari upazila under Dinajpur district allegedly to avenge the orchard owner's protest at land grabbing.Photo: STAR
Criminals felled 80 litchi and mango trees at an orchard of Borogachha village in Phulbari upazila under Dinajpur district allegedly to avenge protest at land grabbing. "I planted around 80 mango and litchi trees on 1.25 acres of paternal land about four years ago. But I found all the trees cut when I went there to nurse them on Sunday," said Md Masud, son of Abul Hossain of Borogachha village. A case was filed with Phulbari police station yesterday regarding the incident accusing 12 people including Amzad Hossain, son of late Azgar Ali of the same village. "Amzad Hossain recently occupied 1.13 acres of my land. As I protested the matter, Amzad got angry and he along with his musclemen axed the trees to take revenge," Masud said. The criminals also beat up Masud as he cried for help after he found the trees of his land axed. Later locals rescued him. Local alleged that Amzad and Mostafizur Rahman Dulal are the ringleaders of at least 25 land grabber groups of the area. And recently they grabbed many arable lands of different people in the area, including 1.3 acres of land of Abdul Aziz, said the villagers. Admitting several incidents of land occupation, Amzad said, "The land belonged to us. But Masud's father Abul Hossain grabbed at least 49 acres of land through forging the land documents many years ago. I am just recovering our land and have already regained 11 acres land from different people." Mostafizur Rahman Dulal one of alleged ringleader of land grabbing groups of the village also claimed that he and his men are recovering grabbed lands from people. Asked about the tree felling, Amzad said, "Masud did the act to harass me." Md Abdul Hossain, father of the orchard owner Masud, said, "I bought the land and cases are pending with court regarding the matter. The truth will be prove in the court." "Following a case, we have started investigation. Action will be taken upon completion of the investigation," said Monjur Rahman, officer in charge of Phulbari police station. Tension is prevailing in the area over the tree felling incident.
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