A series of cases have been filed in connection with a clash over the occupation of leased government land in Araihazar, Narayanganj. Mahmuda Akhter Meem filed a case on Saturday as the plaintiff. In it, 12 people have been named and several unidentified people have been named as accused.
Earlier on Friday, nine people, including Upazila Chhatra League General Secretary Saddam Hossain, and several unidentified people were named as accused in a case filed by another person named Delwar Hossain.
According to the Upazila Land Office and local sources, about 2.52 acres of government land in the Duptara Satyavandi area was leased to Abu Taher in 1985. Of this, 52 percent of the lease was canceled and a government residential vocational training center was established in 2017. At the time of the lease, local residents Abu Taher, Wahab Mia, Md. Musa, Nurul Haque, Maqbul Hossain and Abu Hanif Mia were living in a joint family.
Later, when the joint family broke up, a dispute arose over the division of the land. Since the lease was in Abu Taher's name, he refused to give it to others. Upazila Chhatra League General Secretary Saddam Hossain's father Musa applied to the UNO three months ago for equal distribution of the land. On August 29, UNO Ishtiaq Ahmed went there, verified the decision, and asked everyone to remain calm.
Later, a scuffle broke out between Abu Taher's family and others. At one point, they got into a fight with local weapons. At least 10 people were injured in the incident. Two days later, on Friday, Abu Taher's son Delwar Hossain filed a case against his uncle and cousins. On Saturday, his cousin's wife Mahmuda Akhter filed a counter-case.
Upazila Chhatra League General Secretary Saddam Hossain said that the land was leased when his father and uncle lived together. Since everyone has separated, they have demanded equal distribution. But the dispute is ongoing as uncle Abu Taher and his children do not agree. On August 29, when he tried to stop the quarrel, he was beaten up by them. However, Delwar Hossain said that the opponent attacked to seize the land leased in his father's name.
Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Ishtiaq Ahmed said that the matter will be resolved after examining the circumstances under which the government land was leased and the extent of the brothers' contribution. Araihazar Police Station OC Imdadul Islam Tayyab said that they will investigate the cases of both and take action.
