The real claimants of the land have held a press conference against the ‘VIP Shahadat Syndicate’ of Rangpur, alleging that they illegally occupied 123 acres of land including Jamal Market in the city through fake documents. The complaint states that 15 families are now living dependently on others due to the illegal occupation by creating fake documents through the record room under the influence of power and money.
Mohammad Abdul Jalil, on behalf of the victim’s family, made the allegation at a press conference at Jamal Market in the city on Monday (July 13) afternoon.
Matiar Rahman Swapan, Khorsheda Akhtar, Moslema Begum, Aduri Begum, Mousumi Begum, Monira Begum, Nargis Akhtar, Abdul Halim Khokon, Ferdous, Mahbabur Rahman, Nayan Mia, Faruk, Murad, Shamim, Sohel and Warishan were present at the time.
At the press conference, Abdul Jalil alleged that my grandmother, the late Latifon Nesa Khatun, owns 1 acre 33 hundredths of land in CS Khatian 325, 326, S Khatian 364 of Jail No. 92 of Radha Ballabh Mouza in the city. 5484, 5401, 5402, 5403, 5486, 5487, 5403/5585, 5484/5534. For a long 100 years, we have been living peacefully in this ancestral home since the time of our ancestors. But a fraud ring of 20 people including VIP Shahadat Hossain, Dilruba Shahadat, Abdur Rashid Chowdhury, Abu Bakkar Siddique, Md. Zahidul Islam Rahat, Syed Mahabubar Rahman Bakul, S. M. Chaber Hossain has set its eyes on this property located in the heart of Rangpur metropolis.
Abdul Jalil alleged at the press conference that his grandmother Latifon Nesa Khatun’s name was ‘Syeda Latifon Nesa’ and they created fake and forged documents in collusion with the record room, making their ancestors look like their ancestors. And by exerting influence, they occupied 1 acre 23 percent of our land with their muscle power and built a market, house and office there. We, at least 15 partners of the deceased Latifon Nesa, are now living inhumanly on just 10 percent of the land behind the market. We are not getting any solution in this matter due to the influence of VIP Shahadat and their people in the case.
Abdul Jalil said at the press conference, “I have applied in writing to various departments including the Law Minister, Home Minister, Land Minister, IGP, DUK Chairman, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, District and Sessions Judge to recover my ancestral property. But since they are influential, we are not getting any solution. As a result, 15 families with their families are living on other people’s land, starving or semi-starved. Despite having assets worth hundreds of crores of taka, some of our family members are working as maids, some are driving rickshaws, some are pushing carts, and some are working in other people’s houses to support their families.”
The press conference alleged, ‘The influential Shahadat Syndicate mortgaged our ancestral property against a loan of crores of taka at Exim Bank Rangpur branch on the basis of fake documents. Later, the bank authorities issued an auction notice for the purpose of repaying the so-called loan. In the name of this auction, they tried to evict us from the memorable homes of our ancestors several times. The last time was on November 26, 2024, when at least 20 policemen and court laborers carrying red flags led by an executive magistrate came and vandalized our shops and destroyed the trees in the house. But at one stage of the eviction drive, when local journalists and locals wanted to see the valid court order for the eviction drive, the magistrate could not show any order and stopped the vandalism and ordered the bank authorities to re-verify the documents and left.
We have already sent written applications by post to various offices of the country, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Lands, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Divisional Commissioner, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, believing only in the rule of law.
The press conference demanded the recovery of ancestral property and strict legal action against the influential land fraud ring involved.
VIP Shahadat Hossain’s mobile number (01) was called several times to inquire about this matter, but he did not answer the call.