RAJSHAHI, Nov 09: Some 18 bighas of land worth Tk 2.0 billion (200 crore) in Seroil Bastuhara Para under ward-21 of Rajshahi city has been recovered from illegal possession of encroachers.
It is learnt, four land grabbers- namely Moinuddin Sarker Monir, Rashid Akhter, Runa Laila and Rashida Khatun of Kadirganj area- had illegally occupied the 18 bigha government-owned land in Seroil Bastuhara Para of Rajshahi City Corporation area in 1993 and filed a case claiming ownership of the land.
On June 6, 2016, the court delivered a verdict of the case in favour of the plaintiffs.
But, not accepting the verdict, the deputy commissioner of Rajshahi filed an appeal against the order on October 30, 2016.
On June 20, 2018, the deputy commissioner appointed Assistant GP Advocate Ejajul Haque Manu to move the case in favour of the state.
Recently, the court has granted the appeal in favour of the state and said the land does not belong to the defendants (Plaintiffs in the earlier case).
Following the verdict, the government authorities recovered the 18 bigha land worth Tk 200 crore from the clutches of the illegal occupants.
Seventy homeless families who had long been living in a slum on the land were happy with the verdict of the case.
They thanked the government and especially RCC Mayor AHM Khariuzzaman Liton who had a direct intervention in filing the case and continuing it.
After the court verdict, RCC Mayor AHM Khaurzzaman Liton rushed to the Bastuhara Para and met with the residents of the area on Wednesday last.
He said he was repeatedly requested by the land grabbers not to proceed with the case further and they also tried to lure him into making a deal with them against a handsome kickback but he turned down their proposal.
He said his father AHM Kamruzzaman had worked for the welfare of the common people and he also vowed to work for them.
Residents of Bastuhara Para including president of ward-21 AL Toazammel Haque Bablu, general secretary Ismael Hossain, Sohel Rana, Sohrab Hossain, Tara and Masud Rana thanked and expressed their gratitude to the RCC Mayor for his positive role in saving them from being evicted from their houses.
Advocate Ezaul Haque Manu said residents of Bastuhara Para had been living there for the past 200 years taking the land on lease.
But, in 2013, four land grabbers had filed a case claiming ownership of the land.
[email protected]
