Staff Correspondent

Nasrul Hamid Bipu, former state minister for power and energy, owned the land as far as the eye can see standing beside the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway.

Project of Hamid Real Estate located in Raimony area of Amirabari and Mathbari Union of Trishal Upazila of Mymensingh. He is in possession of about five hundred bighas of a reservoir in Narada Beel.

Locals complained that the former state minister has taken over these lands of the common farmers of the village by using the influence of power and threatening them with police, case-attacks and cadre forces. The total land area in Narada Beel is about 1000 acres. Recently, after the political change, hundreds of Hamid Real Estate signboards in the bill to hide assets were taken down.

It is seen on the spot that former Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid owns all the land as far as the eye can see in Trishal's Narda Bill next to the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The victims complained that the former state minister Nasrul Hamid has occupied more land than what was purchased.

According to the information obtained from the local land office, so far Nasrul Hamid has registered 154 bighas of land. The current market value of the land is around one hundred crore rupees. The people of the village used to cultivate paddy in the dry season and fish in groups in the rainy season. There was also a boat ride. What is now the golden past.

Elderly Ramiza Khatun of Raimoni area of Amirabari Union said that despite having a land deed in my name, the land was forcibly taken away through a local broker. This land was deeded to me by my mother.
I wanted to make a tin house after filling my land with soil. Then I was not allowed to enter the room. When asked to know the reason for the obstruction, he was informed that this land has been deeded. Nasrul Hamid has taken away my assets by using fake documents through brokers. My land has been taken away.

There is one thousand acres of land in Narada Bill in Amirbari and Mathbari Union. The control of the entire land of that bill is now in the hands of Nasrul Hamid. Nasrul Hamid fish farming in the entire bill. Local common people do not have lice.

Sohail Miah of Narayanpur in Amirabari Union said, Hamid Group representative Dulal and Arsa forcibly occupied two acres and ninety-five percent of the land belonging to me and my grandfather Iman Ali Akand through these two brokers. It has been going around for three to four years saying that I will give money for the land today, I will give it tomorrow. If I want to go to the land, I am afraid of a drug case. The police came and harassed us. They threatened to bring me out of the house and burn me to death.

Mirazul Islam of Khagati village of the same union said, about 2 acres of our land was forcibly occupied. I applied to the land office for mischief regarding the matter. Angered by this, Nasrul Amin harassed the police.

Ayub Ali, caretaker of Hamid Economic Zone Limited, said that two days after the agitation, the order came from Dhaka to remove the signboards. Roadside signboards bearing the minister's name (Hamid Economic Zone Limited) have been erased with black ink. I picked up the rest of the signboards and kept them in the room. Since Sheikh Hasina ran away, there is no news of our owner.

Sakhawad Hoson in Narayanpur village said, I had 10 acres of land in North Thile. I sell 4 acres of land to Hamid Group. I still have 6 acres left in that bill. My land has been occupied by force and intimidation. I am not even allowed to go to my land, I cannot cultivate. At one stage, Anwar Hossain (Dulal) and Asadul Haque (Arsa) negotiated through brokers to sell the land. But till now no money has been given for this land. But taken by force.

Attempts were made to contact the former Minister of State for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid Bipur, but his statement could not be obtained. Apart from this, when the project manager Jasim Uddis was contacted on the mobile phone, the mobile phone was found to be switched off.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh Mahfuzul Alam Masum said, in two khatians in Amirabari and Mathbari Union of Trishal, former State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid Bipu (owned by Hamid Real Estate) has 41.94 acres of land in Amirabari Mauza and another 7 in Mauza. 10.73 and 1.21 acres of land have been registered in Mathbari Mauza.

No concerned person was available to make comments on the allegations.