Houses demolished for protesting drug trade

The landless people had been living there since long.

Most of them built tin-shed houses on the embankment taking loan from different NGOs like Brac and Grameen Bank.

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As the landless protested to drug trading on the embankment, about 15 criminals attacked and demolished 11 houses and looted their valuables on May 1. The criminals also beat up the dwellers of the houses.

After the incident, the landless people filed several cases against them.

Most of the landless are now living under open sky in great misery for last few weeks while some others have gone into hiding fearing attack of the criminals.

The victims said that the criminals are allegedly threatening them to withdraw the cases.

The landless people lost their houses in river erosion and took shelter on the embankment a few years ago. Earlier, Kalihati police allegedly refused to take cases when the landless went to the police station to file cases. Later, the victims filed seven separate cases with a first class magistrate court in Tangail on May 5. Kalihati Upazila Jute Development Officer was asked to investigate the matter and submit the report immediately.

This has infuriated the criminals who threatened the victims of dire consequences.