Landless people block highway protesting alleged forced eviction by Krishak Dal leader in Kushtia

A group of landless people staged a demonstration in Kushtia (25 December) alleging that a local Krishak Dal leader has forcibly evicted them from their place of residence aiming to grab the land illegally.

According to police, the demonstration took place around 1pm at the Trimohoni intersection of Kushtia sadar. During the protest, the victims blocked the Kushtia-Ishwardi Highway for one hour, creating a gridlock.

They left the highway after police reached the spot and assured them of taking steps against the perpetrators.

"We learned about the demonstration through national emergency number 999. After reaching the spot, we came to know that the municipality has 22 bighas of land where landless people live," Officer In-Charge of Kushtia Model Police Station Shihabur Rahman Shihab told The Business Standard.

"Some people are trying to grab this land. The victims ended their blockade after we assured them of taking steps in this regard," the OC added.

The victims claimed Krishak Dal's Kushtia district Convener Sumon Sarkar is trying to evict them from where they live at Barkhada Hothat Para.  

"Kushtia municipality has 7.36 acres of land at Barkhada mouza. Among the 22 bighas of land, some landless people have been living on 21 bighas for the last 50 years, while the rest one bigha has nothing but a mosque with most of it remaining empty."

They said on Wednesday morning, some people led by Sumon came to the spot with 30-40 motorcycles and threatened the victims to leave the land. They even brought down the municipality's signboard and demarcated the area.

The demonstration was in protest of this incident.

When asked about the matter, Fatema Khatun, one of the victims, said, "I don't have any other place to live. I am using this government land as my last abode. Some Krishak Dal people are trying to snatch this land from us. Why do they want to evict us?"

Shimul Hossain, a resident of Hothat Para, said Sumon along with his men are trying to take over this land.

"They came on 30-40 motorcycles and demarcated the area in the morning," Shimul said.

Ujjal Hossain, a victim, said, "We are living on this land for last 40 years. There are 200 houses here, which are currently in the process of getting snatched."

According to locals, former member of parliament Mahbubul Alam Hanif and his brother Ata had tried to seize this land during the Awami League rule.

At that time, the landless people had put up a resistance. Now new people are trying to grab this land with the political changeover.

Sumon could not be reached over the phone for a comment on this matter.