‘Arrest land grabbers in 48 hrs’

The High Court has set a 48-hr deadline for the arrest of those accused of grabbing the land belonging to a Hindu family in Lalmonirhat.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 March 2014, 12:58 PM
Updated : 10 March 2014, 01:35 PM

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain issued the order on Monday after the preliminary hearing of a complaint.

The court directed the district superintendent of police to execute the order and report within seven days.

Advocate Manzill Murshid argued for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Roy represented the state.

English-language daily ‘The Daily Star’ had on Feb 2 run a report with the headline ‘Hindu’s land grabbed by AL leader’.

The report said Bhabani Kanta Singh and his two sons, residents of Rasulpur village at Patgram Upazila, were coerced into handing over a 32 decimal plot to Boura Union Awami League president Rabiul Islam Miron.

According to the report, they were forced to sign on the stamp paper at local Awami League leader Nazrul Islam’s house.

Singh filed a case following the incident while Rabiul started constructing house on the land.

Manzill Murshid filed the petition on Mar 4 on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, an NGO.

The court also wants to know on why ‘inaction' in taking steps against land grabbers in the Rosulpur village should not be declared illegal.
It has also asked why the authorities should not be directed to guarantee the safety and protection of Hindus and their property in the area.

The home secretary, inspector general of police, deputy inspector general of police in Rangpur division, superintendent of police in Lalmonirhat, OC of Patgram Police Station, land grabbers Robiul Islam Miron and Nazrul Islam have been asked to reply to the rule in two weeks.