Rally, procession to cancel lease of Sylhet Singha Bari

At the rally, a day-long hartal programme in Sylhet on October 9 was announced if the demand is not met by that time.

The Arpita Sampatty Ain Protirodh Andolan (vested property law resistance movement) organised the rally, held at the Registry Maidan.

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A divisional convention of the Andolon will be held in Sylhet on September 30, it was also announced at the rally, presided over by Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, also convenor of the Andolon.

It was addressed by, among others, district Awami League President ANM Shafique, Amnesty International, Bangladesh chapter president Barrister Arash Ali, District Bar Secretary EU Shahidul Islam and city AL Secretary Misbahuddin Siraj.

The speakers called for scrapping the Vested Property Law.

They demanded fresh lease of the Singha Bari to descendants the owners, who are now in possession of the property and said their agitation will continue till the "illegal" lease is not cancelled.

The rally also demanded transfer of the Deputy Commissioner.

However, the issue has now become complicated as both the parties--the old lessees and the new lessees -- filed writ petitions in the High Court.

Land grabbers have been trying to grab the property for long.

Govinda Narayan Singha Majumder was the owner of the Singha Bari in the city's Chouhatta area, now valued at about Tk four crore.

Dignitaries like Rabindra Nath Tagore and Nazrul Islam visited the house.

Some of Govinda narayan's successors went to India during Pakistan period while some others are still in possession.

The absentee's share was declared 'abandoned property' in 1973. The abandoned portion was leased out to other co-sharers in the seventies. Since then they are in possession of the property.