Attempted Land Grab from Retired ArmyOfficer Attack, vandalism on market, residential property in Chakaria Municipality
B. M. Habib Ullah, Chakaria-Pekua (Cox’s Bazar)
Allegations have emerged that a group of at least 50 individuals, armed with locally-made weapons—including machetes, axes, and cleavers—carried out an attack and acts of vandalism in an attempt to forcibly seize land belonging to a retired army officer, Bedar Uddin.
The property, located near Belal’s shop on Khondkarpara Road in Ward 5 of Chakaria Municipality (within the Kahariaghona Mouza), has been in the officer’s possession for the past 30 years and is legally registered under his name (BS Khatian).
The assailants reportedly obstructed renovation work on the market and residential structures on the site, creating an atmosphere of terror. Abdul Hamid, the elderly brother of the retired officer and the supervisor of the renovation project, has alleged that the attackers broke into the site office, smashed a cash desk, looted 120,000 BDT in cash, and stole various construction materials.
Mohammad Hasan, a caretaker for the property, informed journalists that the attack and looting were carried out in three separate waves on the afternoon of October 28, 2026, by a group of at least 50 men and women who arrived from Kahariaghona. Construction workers present at the scene reported that the group launched a sudden assault, holding 10 workers hostage with machetes, axes, and cleavers. The attackers demanded that the work be halted, claiming they were entitled to a share of the land.
The workers further stated that some of them were threatened with weapons and driven away from the site. Abdul Hamid, the project manager, stated that the land was purchased via a formal deed (*saf kabala*) from a local resident named Sahab Uddin by his younger brother, Bedar Uddin—a former military officer. For the past 30 years, Bedar Uddin has held possession of the property, utilizing it for a market and residential units that are rented out. A portion of the land within the boundary walls had remained vacant. Driven by greed, individuals named Alamgir and Jahangir from Karaiyaghona, along with Kafil Uddin (brother of Jasim Uddin and Sahab Uddin), have long been attempting to forcibly seize this land, claiming a share of it through inheritance. Recently, taking advantage of the fact that the owner, Bedar Uddin, was away in Dhaka on official government duty, the group hired thugs to vandalize the market and residential structures.
The perpetrators caused damage estimated at several lakh taka, destroying the market’s outer gate, brick walls, iron-framed windows, a tin-roofed structure, and various furnishings. Upon receiving information, SI Jahangir and a police contingent from the Chakaria Police Stationacting under the instructions of the OC arrived at the site near Belal’s shop on the Chiringa-Badarkhali road to bring the situation under control. Even in the presence of the police, a group of approximately 50 men and women attempted to enter the market premises to forcibly occupy the property. However, due to firm intervention by the police, the individuals eventually left the scene. The police instructed that all construction work on the land be halted for the time being and scheduled a meeting between the two parties at the police station to review documentation and resolve the dispute.
According to sources, former Commissioner Jasim Uddin acted as a mediator; he aligned himself with the police and played a key role in ensuring that the outsiders left the premises. Former military officer Bedar Uddin stated over the phone that, following a legal battle—involving an appeal (Case No. 150/2012, Chakaria) heard by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) in Cox’s Bazar and subsequently by the Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) in Chattogram—a ruling was issued in his favor. The case was remanded to the lower court for a merit-based resolution against those attempting to forcibly occupy the land. Bedar Uddin explained that he had purchased the land—originally part of B.S. Khatian No. 294, Plot No. 1324, in Mouza Kaharriaghona (later designated as B.S. 760)—from Sahab Uddin, who had inherited it from the original owner, the late Golbahar.
He alleged that, taking advantage of his absence, a group of individuals—claiming ownership of the land and operating under the banner of the ruling political party—has been engaging in acts of terror and forced occupation.
