Tension in Bhola shoals over land grabbing

The area is about 30 kilometers from Charfession upazila head quarters.

Sources in the area said Jalal Matubbar obtained decrees over 34 acres of land and Asgor Ali over 190 acres by showing "false documents".

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The landowners had filed a miscase (no.126/F/96-97) with the court of Assistant Commissioner Lands (AC Land), Charfession upazila. It was disposed of in favor of the complainants on March 30, 1997.

But Jalal Matubbar and Asgor Ali filed appeals (no. 13/98-99) with the court of the ADC Revenue, Bhola. The ADC gave a judgment in favor of the two on April 27 this year and cancelled the previous order of the AC Land.

The landowners filed another appeal against the order of ADC Revenue with the court of the Divisional Commissioner (Revenue), Barisal on September 11, 2003. The appeal is yet to be disposed of.

Now the decree holders are trying to get possession on the disputed lands and loot the paddy.

The sources said many of the landowners are Hindus. If the administration does not take proper steps immediately, the conflict may take a communal colour, they said.