Case filed against Jute Secretary, Nilphamari DC

The buyer -- Shamsul Haque Bhuiyan, owner of M/s SR Trading of Paik Para, Dhaka -- has also been sued in the case filed with the court of Nilphamari Joint District Judge on Thursday by former municipal commission of Syedpur Abu Hossen Bachchu, businessman Amzad Ali and social worker SM Zia.

The property was sold at Tk 1, 31, 59, 107 on April 19, 2001 during Awami League rule.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

In the case, it was stated that owner of Tatia Jute Press was Rameswar Lal Tatia of Syedpur town. He build 16 godowns, one office one jute baling press on three acre 40 decimal land along She-e-Bangla Road and started jute business in 1940.

During 1965 Indo-Pak war he fled to India with family. The property was then declared 'enemy property' and subsequently termed 'vested property'.

The government then handed over its maintenance to the Jute Board.

During the Awami League government, the jute ministry sold the property illegally and at a throwaway price.

The plaintiffs stated that the government can not sell any vested property.

Sale of the property sparked agitation by different sections of people in Syedpur, who demanded its cancellation. They said actual price of the property was about Tk 10 crore.