Md. Nayeem Hasan Emon, Rajapur (Jhalokathi) 

A farming family in Rajapur, Jhalokathi has held a press conference alleging an attempt to grab ancestral land and a subsequent attack.  

The victim  farmer Abbas Uddin Howlader held the press conference at the Rajapur Press Club. He is a resident of the Gorosthan Road area in Sadar Union of the upazila and the son of the late Afsar Uddin at noon on Friday.

At the press conference, Abbas Uddin’s relative Md. Rana read out a written statement on his behalf. In the written statement, he alleged that a long-standing dispute exists over ancestral and deeded land between Abbas Uddin's family and their relatives Jahangir Howlader, Alomgir Howlader, Shahjahan Howlader, and Maksuda Begum from the same area. Two months ago, Maksuda Begum filed a case in the Jhalokathi Additional District Magistrate Court. As a continuation of this, on Thursday (June 19) afternoon, when officials from the upazila land office went for an on-site investigation, they spoke with both the plaintiff and the defendant parties.

According to the complaint, during that time, Maksuda Begum’s son-in-law Ohid Saiful, along with a person named Sabuj claiming to be a journalist, broke the boundary fence of the disputed land and issued threats. At one point, they assaulted Abbas Uddin’s cousin Saidul and hit another cousin Siam on the head, causing a bleeding injury. Siam is currently undergoing treatment at Rajapur Upazila Health Complex.

Additionally, the complaint states that during the incident, Ohid Saiful kicked Abbas Uddin’s daughter Hasi and vandalized household utensils. A video of the incident has already spread on social media. A General Diary (GD) has been filed at Rajapur Police Station. The complainants claimed that Ohid Saiful, identifying himself as an Awami League-affiliated journalist, has been involved in extortion, intimidation, and other criminal activities in the area. They also claimed he had previously been accused in a rape case and served jail time.

On the other hand, the accused journalist Ohid Saiful denied the allegations, saying, “I was recording video from 150 yards away during the incident. Then a person named Saidul came and attacked me. Later, they all beat me. A video of this incident has also been spread on social media.”

The incident has sparked extreme tension in the area. Locals hope that the local administration and law enforcement agencies will take the matter seriously and take appropriate action