Guchchhagram Shelter Project in Pabna completely gone

PABNA, Jan 27: All the 60 houses are left in ruins; almost nothing remains of their doors, windows, tins, brick walls and broken bricks are lying scattered all around-- this is a narrative of the present condition of Guchchhagram Shelter Project for the landless people in Pabna sadar upazila.
Not only the houses were torn down but also the project land was occupied and almost everything, including the doors, windows and tin roofs, of the houses were looted allegedly by the people claiming ownership of the land.
A signboard with the names of seven people was hung at the project site claiming the land of the project as theirs, stating that a case is pending with the court in this regard.
The claimants said that during the Awami League government, their land was forcibly occupied and the houses under the shelter project were built there and they filed the case demanding ownership of the land.
However, they denied the allegations of involvement in demolition of the houses and looting their doors, windows and tins.
According to Pabna Sadar Upazila Parishad, in 2020, the local administration handed over the houses with legal documents to 60 landless families at Paschim Jamua village in Bharara union of the upazila.
On August 05 last year, after the ouster of the Awami League government, the occupants were ordered by the people claiming ownership of the project land to vacate the houses by night on that very day.
The residents of the shelter project alleged that soon afterwards they were forced to leave their houses at gunpoint and their houses were demolished. Everything including the doors, windows, and tin roofs of the houses were looted.
Then the demolishers hung a signboard claiming the land as theirs and stating that a case was pending with the Senior Assistant Judge's Court in this regard.
The seven claimants of the ownership of the project land are: Akram Pramanik, Ummat Pramanik, Akkas Pramanik, Ibrahim Pramanik, Ismail Pramanik, Nayeb Ali, and Nabab Ali of Paschim Jamua village.
During a recent visit, a signboard was found hung at the entrance to the project site, that reads, 'A case is pending with the Pabna Sadar Senior Assistant Judge Court regarding this property. The plaintiffs are seven while the defendant is the government. The land area is 1.38 acres.'
At that time, landowners Nayeb Ali of Paschim Jamua village and Atiq Pramanik, son of Akkas Pramanik, were seen in the project area.
They said, "This land is ours. But Abu Said Khan, the then chairman of Bharara union, forcibly occupied this land and gave it to the administration for a shelter project."
After searching for the beneficiaries of the shelter project, it was found that they were living on the neighbouring embankment.
It was seen that Fulmala Begum had built a small house with a tin roof and jute fence under the embankment and was living with her only son there. Several other such victims were found around her.
When asked, Fulmala Begum said, "After Sheikh Hasina fled, some people came in the evening and ordered us to vacate the house within an hour. I was cooking at the time. Despite their requests, there was no work. I sat outside the house without eating all night and cried. In the morning, I went to my father's house to get my clothes. From there, we came to this embankment, but this house is empty."
"We are asking the government to arrange a place for us to live," she added.
Fatema Khatun, wife of Bachchu Pramanik, said, "At first a few people came that day.
Alam Sheikh, son of old woman Fatema Begum (70), said, "When the vandalism started, I went crazy with my old mother. I was lost, wondering where to go, what should I do? I was at a loss. Later, I took shelter in someone else's house. I came here on the embankment as a daily wage labourer and am living with my mother in a state of chaos."
Talking to the FE over the phone, Sultan Mahmud Khan, former chairman of Bhandara Union Parishad, alleged that no action was taken despite repeated complaints to the administration after the incident. He said,"The victims are now living in subhuman condition on the embankment. They do not have toilets or water facilities.They are living miserable lives.There is no problem with the government or the land grabbers. But these poor people are not at fault.Where will they go now? We demand their immediate rehabilitation."
When attention was drawn to this issue, Pabna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mofizul Islam told the FE, "I was not aware that the houses had been demolished. However, after it came to my notice, I asked the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) to conduct a visit and submit a report. Further steps will be taken after learning about the entire matter."
Stating that it is not known whether there is a case regarding the land, the Deputy Commissioner further said, "It is not possible to say anything about the matter without seeing the case documents."

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