800 landless sued in Satkhira for land grabbing
Landless people's makeshift houses on government land at Norarchak in Debhata upazila in Satkhira.Photo: STAR
Nine leaders of a landless people's association have been sued for illegally occupying 1500 bighas of government khas land forcibly at Norarchak in Debhata upazila. Over 700 to 800 unnamed landless people have also been accused in the case filed with Debhata Police Station on Tuesday night by Parulia union Assistant Land Officer Golam Farooque in Debhata upazila. The accused are Debhata Upazila Landless Association President Abdul Gaffar, leaders Yad Ali Moral, Sirajul Islam, Firojul Islam, Golam Rahman, Nazrul Islam, Abul Hossain, Basu Dev Sarkar and Amjad Hossain. Complainant Golam Farooque said the local administration leased 1500 bighas of the special water body, a government khas land at Norarchak in Debhata upazila, to Satata Matsajibi Samabaya Samity, for Tk 28 lakh yearly revenue following government rules last year. Since 1972, lessees have been cultivating shrimp there through paying lease money, he added. Over 4,000 landless people under the banner of Debhata Upazila Landless Samity led by the accused occupied the 1500 bighas of government khas land on Thursday last and damaged the lessee's establishments and looted away fish over Tk 10 lakh from the shrimp enclosure, he said. The landless people have also made over 1000 makeshift huts on the land, he added. Contacted, Debhata upazila landless Samity president Abdul Gaffar said in 1982, following a writ petition filed by the landless people, the High Court asked the government to allocate the land for landless people but no action has been taken. Failing to get the land even after submitting prayer to the higher authorities for taking lease of the land, they occupied the khas land, he added. Satata Matsajibi Samabaya Samity general secretary told this correspondent that they have been cultivating shrimps taking lease from the government for long but the landless people forcibly occupied the land and looted away fishes, irrigation pumps and other valuables worth over Tk ten lakh. Satkhira Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) MA Aziz said as the landless people illegally occupied the land that was leased to Satata Matsajibi Samabaya Samity, action will be taken against the occupiers.
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