Over 50 Gaibandha families protest 'illegal' eviction bid
Several thousand people of Purbo and Paschim Kamornai in Gaibandha Sadar upazila formed a human chain along GaibandhaSundarganj Road yesterday demanding a halt to the eviction of what they said legal landowners from the areas.
They alleged that the district administration served eviction notices on more than 52 families who have been living in the areas for the last 40 to 50 years with valid papers relating to their ownership and land registered deeds.
They claimed the kinsmen of Fazlur Rahman sold the land belonging to Faizur Rahman Waqf Estate to the families about 50 years ago. They have been paying land and municipal taxes for decades, they said.
Without verifying their valid documents, the district administration issued eviction notices to the families, the agitating people alleged.
The district administration has launched an eviction drive in the areas following a petition filed by Safinaz Chowdhury, the custodian of waqf estate. Safinaz had earlier filed a writ with the High Court, seeking eviction of “illegal occupiers” from Faizur Rahman Waqf estate.
The court gave its order in favour of the wafq estate as none of the 52 families challenged the writ.
Organised by “Legal Households Eviction Resistance Committee", the human chain programme continued for two hours from 10:00am. They later staged a sit-in on the road, halting vehicular movement for two hours.
The agitating people urged the political leaders, top government officials and human rights bodies to stop “illegal eviction of legal landowners” from Purbo and Paschim Kamornai areas.
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