‘We are not land grabbers’
Family of M Farid Chowdhury, who went to take possession of anti-British revolutionary Jatindra Mohan Sengupta's house after obtaining a "court order", yesterday said they did not grab the house, rather they went to take possession of the property following legal procedures.
They made this comment at a press conference at Chattogram Press Club.
"Those who termed us as land grabbers and are spreading propaganda against us are doing it intentionally for their self-interest," said Farid's son Farhad Chowdhury.
Farhad said that they bought the property from an heir of Jatindra, Milan Sen, who was the property's "owner".
About allegation of using fake documents, Farhad said, "We've got ownership of the property after a long legal battle, and everybody knows that a legal battle cannot be won on basis of fake documents."
Replying to a question about the High Court issuing an order on Wednesday, he said, "We have been staying at the property since Monday. The HC issued status quo on the property, which means we will not move out, and no one else will enter, but the house will not be demolished. We are following the order, as we are staying there without making any changes [demolition] to the house. In the order, the court has not directed us to leave the property."
Farhad said if the government wants to take over the house, it should do so through legal process, after negotiating with them.
Contacted, Rana Dasgupta, a prosecutor of International Crimes Tribunal, said Milan Sen, although a relative of Jatindra, cannot be the property's owner, as it was made vested property in the 1970s. Milan did not file any case with court, claiming ownership, as per vested property repeal act, Rana said.
"Keeping the district administration, custodian of the land, in the dark and not making them a party, Farid file the case," he said. "So, I reiterate that they formulated fake documents."
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