'They will torch our houses to grab khas land'

She is among about 50 landless families living for long on the bank of dead Boral at Agran village in Boraigram upazila.

The land grabbers, who are influential in the area, will torch our houses if we do not leave", she told some newsmen during a recent visit organised by Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), a local NGO.

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Most of the government lands along the riverbank and parts of the river bed have been occupied by the influentials, it was gathered. They are now trying to evict the 50 landless families.

"One Motalab and Union Parishad (UP) member M Solim say they will torch our houses if we do not leave," Rahima said.

Eleven houses were demolished by Solim, claiming ownership of the land, she alleged.

Solim denied this. "It is not at all government land. I am the owner and I have documents," Solim said.

But freedom fighter Farid Ahmed of the area said the bank or parts of the dead river can not be owned by any individual. Landless families have been living there for long.

On the other side of the riverbank, Julekha Begum said one Joddar Motalab is threatening to torch her thatched house if she does not leave. Jelekha said he has been living there for over 12 years.

Same is the situation in 12 others areas of the districts. Land grabbers are threatening landless people living on government lands, ALRD officials, said.

Filing of cases and counter cases are going on for long.

The landless people at Agran village are organised under the banner of Agran Bhumihin Samity, supported by ALRD.

The administration keeps mum in such a conflicting situation.

When asked Additional Deputy Commissioner (revenue) M Iftekharul Islam Khan, "Somebody can cultivate state owned land but they can not be the owner."

He said rules are followed in distributing khas (government) land to the landless

Natore Police Superintendent M Nazrul Isalm said this is district administration's concern. "From my part, I will take it seriously when police help is need," he said.