Jewellery market demolished in Ctg
Landowners of a jewellery market at Hazari Lane under Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong yesterday demolished nine shops in an attempt to evict the shop owners and build a high rise there.
The shop owners alleged that around 500 tolas of gold ornaments worth Tk 2 crore 20 lakh and Tk 10 lakh in cash were looted during the sudden demolition in presence of police around 3:30am.
During the demolition, around 300 men led by Imran Ahmed, son of the landowner Mohammad Sagir, also locked adjacent shops, markets and residential buildings so that locals could not resist them, alleged locals.
Sujit Baran Dhar, one of the shop owners, said Sagir owns the land but the shop owners have rights as they have been running business there for around 35 years.
“We filed cases to stop the landowner from evicting us that are running in the court,” Sujit said, adding that the landowners filed no eviction case against them.
Amar Krisna Paul, lawyer of the shop owners, said Sagir and his son carried out the demolition without any court directive.
On the contrary, Imran claimed the judgment of the case came in their favour.
Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam Azad of Kotwali Police Station said police arrived on information and the landowners claimed to have the judgement in their favour.
Terming the incident unlawful, Bangladesh Jewellery Samity, Chittagong Branch, President Nurul Afsar Chowdhury and Secretary Subash Chandra Dhar demanded immediate punishment to the attackers and return of the looted valuables.
They threatened to launch greater movement. Locals at Hazari Lane later held a protest rally.
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