Foes in politics, friends while land grabbing

Some influential leaders of ruling BNP's youth front Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal and opposition Awami League's Juba League forcibly grabbed five acres of railway land near Bholagnaj stone crushing plant area on January 10.

They grabbed the land allegedly with backing from a section of police officials of Companiganj thana and Ansars, according to sources there.

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Railway employee Mokbul Hossain stationed at Chhatak filed

a case with Companiganj police on January 13 accusing nine persons including Juba Dal leader Sujan Miah and Juba League leader Alauddin.

The other accused persons are Ilyas Miah, Alim Uddin, Khorshed Miah, Tota Miah, Syed Jamal, Shahid Miah and Jahir Miah.

On information, an official visited the site on January 14.

People brought out a procession in the upazila headquarter on Saturday and held a rally demanding restoration of the land from the grabbers and steps to save Bholaganj, a rich sources of stones rolling from Meghalaya hills across the border.

Stone collection is the main source of income for the people of the area.

The processionists paraded the main roads in the upazila headquarters chanting various slogans. They also demanded punishment for corrupt police officials who allegedly backed the land grabbers.

They submitted a memorandum to Sylhet Deputy Commissioner through the Upazila Nirbahi Officer which also demanded withdrawal of ASI Golam Mostafa from Companyganj thana and the Ansar Commander posted at Bholaganj.

The protesters threatened of tougher agitation including hartal if the demands are not met immediately.

The rally was addressed by, among others Mujibur Rahman Mintu, Azir Uddin, Nur Miah, Nurul Islam, Shailen Chandra Shil, Ali Akbar and Shafiqur Rahman.

Because of several stone quarries in the area, a stone crushing plant and a ropeway were set up in Bholaganj in 1968 for supply of stones for railway.

But due to some influential quarters and extortionists, stone collection was disrupted and the government closed the plant in 1998 and withdrew most of the staff. A few staff members were kept there and a Ansar camp set up to guard the government property.