Staff Correspondent

A human chain was held on Sunday in front of the Fazlur Rahman Fazilatunnesa Memorial Trust building in Khilgaon Chowdhurypara, Dhaka, to demand the protection of the property belonging to the Nurani Hafizia and Orphanage.

The protest was organized by the Trust’s management and saw the participation of orphaned students, teachers, and local residents.

Speakers at the rally stated that the late Fazlur Rahman and his wife, Fazilatunnesa, bequeathed all their movable and immovable properties to the Trust during their lifetime. Currently, the Trust operates a Nurani Hafizia and Orphanage, a Jame Mosque, a large cemetery, and a charitable dispensary. The orphanage provides free housing, food, and education to over a hundred underprivileged and orphaned students.

The participants highlighted that on August 31, 2023, the High Court issued a verdict in a relevant writ petition, upholding the Trust's ownership of the properties. Despite this legal ruling, protesters alleged that a certain group is continuing attempts to illegally occupy and sell off the Trust's assets.

"Any attempt to occupy or seize the property of a shelter and educational institution for orphans is not only contrary to the law but also a violation of basic human values," the speakers emphasized. They demanded the swift implementation of the High Court's directive, the assurance of the Trust's property security, and necessary legal action against those involved in the attempted land grab.

Orphaned students and local residents appealed to the administration, law enforcement agencies, the media, and society at large to assist in protecting the Trust's assets.