HC bars eviction of Harijan community from Bogura’s Mokamtola
The court stayed the Bogura District Judge’s eviction order for six months
The High Court today (26 January) ordered a halt to the eviction of nearly 1,000 members of the Harijan community, who have been living in Mokamtola, Bogura district, for centuries.
Lawyers said the order ensures the residents will remain in their homes for now.
The court stayed the Bogura District Judge's eviction order for six months.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
A single bench of Justice Md Ali Reza passed the order after hearing a revision petition filed by Advocate Ziaur Rashid Tipu.
According to case records, a civil suit seeking restoration of land ownership and khash possession was initially dismissed by the Bogura Assistant Judge's Court on 29 April 2024. An appeal against that judgment was later allowed by the First Additional District Judge's Court of Bogura on 7 July last year, which quashed the earlier verdict and issued directives for eviction of the Harijan community.
Following that order, when magistrates and police arrived to carry out the eviction, the residents were reportedly thrown into panic. They sought the assistance of Mir Shahe Alam, BNP candidate for Bogura-2 constituency. Considering the situation, the magistrate granted a seven-day reprieve and suspended the eviction.
Subsequently, Mir Shahe Alam helped file the revision petition in the High Court on his initiative. The petition challenged the verdict and decree of the Bogura Judge's Court.
The High Court heard the case today and issued a rule, maintaining the status quo for six months. Relevant documents were also summoned as part of the proceedings.
