Admin helps landlords grab khas lands in Noakhali, Sirajganj
Landless people, who were rehabilitated in khas lands in Noakhali and Sirajganj, yesterday alleged that local landlords with the help of the local administration are trying to grab the lands in the name of shrimp cultivation.
They added that they were attacked and evacuated from their lands by the hired criminals of the landlords and were also attacked on the Noakhali court premises when they tried to take legal actions in this regard. The lands were mainly used for paddy cultivation.
They said this at a press conference jointly organised by Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association (BELA) and Bangladesh Jatiya Mahila Ainjibi Samity at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity.
Coordinator of Nijera Kori Khushi Kabir said, “There is a high court verdict that the landless people in Noakhali cannot be evacuated. Yet, they have evacuated and attacked the landless people both in their home and on the court premises on April 16.”
“Development workers were also attacked on April 16 on the court compound and were threatened of death,” she added.
At the same press conference landless people of Sirajganj also alleged landlords did not allow them to collect the paddy they cultivated in the khas lands. They added that the landlords harassed them by lodging cases against them and threatening them of death.
Human rights activist Dr Hamida Hossain, Executive Director of BLAST Taslimur Rahman, Advocate Salah Uddin and landless people of Noakhali Shafiqullah, Shilpi Begum and Sakhina Khatun were present at the press conference.
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