Press conference against alleged land grabber in Sonagazi
Sonagazi (Feni) Correspondent
A victim family in Sonagazi held a press conference alleging land grabbing and intimidation by Md. Jasim Uddin and his associates, whom they described as "fascist collaborators."
The press conference took place on Sunday afternoon at an office in Sonagazi municipal town. Representing the affected family from Ward No. 7 of Sonagazi Municipality, Mahmudul Hasan told reporters that Jasim Uddin and his group have been spreading false and fabricated stories against their family via social media.
He said the disputed property has belonged to their family since the era of their forefathers. During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Jasim’s group allegedly began illegally filling in a pond and occupying a house on the land. By 2022, they reportedly started building shops on the property. When the rightful owners tried to stop them, they were allegedly assaulted and threatened by hired thugs.
Mahmudul Hasan presented various legal documents to prove their ownership, including CS, Diara, and BS records, mutation certificates, and tax receipts dating back to 1933.
He further stated that on April 9, when they approached the shops to collect rent, Jasim and his men allegedly threatened his uncle Alauddin with death. Although two meetings were held with local elders, Jasim's group failed to produce any documentation and refused to come to a resolution. Later, they reportedly threatened to use a female tenant to file a false sexual harassment case against them.
Because of these threats, and fearing reputational damage — especially as many family members are religious scholars, imams, and madrasa teachers — they claim they cannot even access their own land.
They have since submitted complaints to the electricity office (seeking the rightful transfer of the utility meter), the municipal authority, and the local market association. The family seeks legal aid and media support to recover their ancestral land from what they describe as an illegal and forceful occupation.
The conference was attended by Mahmudul Hasan, Enayet Ullah, Main Uddin, and Arafat Hossain on behalf of the family.
