An Open Letter to Prime Minister Sk. Hasina: Please, stop land-grabbing crime

Dear Prime Minister,
Assalamu alaykum. Land-grabbing crime has become so widespread in Bangladesh that it has become a matter of major concern to most expatriates living outside. We find our parents and family members vulnerable to the criminal schemes of organized crime syndicates that almost always have political connections. With the emergence of your regime, we hoped things would change for the better, but alas, land-grabbing has now become a common feature in Bangladesh. What is more alarming is your ministers are now involved with such crimes. For this, I don’t have to cite any example outside the one I know so well, which concerns my own family properties in Khulshi, Chittagong.

Back in April of 2005, our family property in Khulshi, opposite to Government Woman’s College, was attacked by some 200 goons that were led by a convicted criminal, an ex-madrasa employee and leader of a very organized crime syndicate -- Jaker Hosain Chowdhury (son of late Kala Mia) of Chandanpura, Chittagong. He had then the backing of PM’s adviser, who along with his APS – Abu Bakr Siddiq would call police not to meddle in the land-grab. Based on a forged document and invalid power of attorney of someone who had no ownership or rights to our properties since at least 1915, Jaker attacked our properties and within hours evicted 16 tenant families that had lived there for decades in our 11 one-storied bungalows. Within weeks, Jaker and his terrorist gang demolished nine homes totally and cut down hundreds of valuable trees once planted by my father. It was one of the worst land-grabbing crimes of 2005, and was widely reported in all Bangla newspapers.

The property has been in our possession legally since the 1950s when my parents bought it. Noting that three of us – the children - live in the USA and that my parents have become too old and thus vulnerable, Jaker conspired to grab our properties. He needed a political backup, and he got one - Saqa Chowdhury.

Dear Prime Minister, you may recall that within days of the sad incident, I contacted you. I also contacted the then Expatriate Affairs State Minister Maj. (Retd). Quamrul. Even the US Embassy in Dhaka and Bangladesh Ambassador Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury were informed of the matter who vowed to help us. Fortunately, based on recommendation of an unbiased, fact-finding police inquiry in May 26, the goons were removed in mid-June in a police raid and the possession was restored back to us. All this was possible because of some honest police officers who were willing to stand up against the crimes of a powerful politically-connected, organized crime syndicate.

A number of cases filed in the courts against the land-grabbing syndicate of Jaker Chowdhury have already found him guilty for illegal land-grabbing, misleading courts with forged documents, deeds and stamps, false and invalid use of power of attorney, etc. He and eight of his major accomplices were sentenced to a 6.5-year prison term each and fined. However, free on bail, he has continued to harass our family with false charges. He has served prison terms thrice for his criminal activities. But he remains remorseless and is oblivious of accountability for his crimes both in this world and the Hereafter. He has forgotten that land-grabbing is one of the worst crimes as warned by our Prophet Muhammad (S): “Whoever usurps the land of somebody unjustly, his neck will be encircled with it down the seven earths (on the Day of Resurrection).” (Bukhari) With a huge terrorist cadre behind, bribes and corrupting influence of influential authorities, he continues to pose a threat to the civil society in Chittagong. He falsely claims ownership of vast territories of the Ispahani Properties and many other legal owners in the port city of Chittagong. As a deterrent to his ill-motives, like the nearby Ispahani Properties, we have deployed the Ansar to secure our properties from any future intrusion of Jaker’s goons.

We thought we shall never again be revisited by the nightmares of 2005, especially not under your watchful eyes of clean government. But we are not sure any more. Recently Jaker has been able to influence the Home Ministry, including Minister Sahara Khatun and Planning Minister A.K. Khandker to help him grab our properties. He wants to force withdrawal of the Ansar from our properties so that with his criminal goons he could forcibly grab our land. This is a very disturbing news to not only our family members but also to everyone in Bangladesh who hoped for a change through your election win, away from the dark days of corruption, thuggery and land-grabbing crimes to an era of safety and security, especially for genuine land-owners like my parents. If after more than fifty years of continuous ownership with all the genuine deeds and documents, taxes, revenues and bills paid, a family like ours feel insecure against such an organized crime syndicate what chances do our ordinary folks have?

On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of expatriates living today outside the country, I appeal to you to stop land-grabbing crimes. Please, stop Jaker Chowdhury of 187 Monu Mianji Lane, Chandanpura, Chittagong from victimizing my family and others in the port city of Chittagong. He belongs to the prison walls for his anti-social, criminal activities, and cannot be allowed to forge new alliances that facilitate crimes of land-grabbing.

Will Bangladesh ever remain so insecure that only the dead ones are the fortunate ones to have been spared of witnessing such horrendous crimes while the government either chooses to ignore or partakes in that victimization of the innocent? May Allah help those who are stern against criminals and fulfill their public trust and obligations!

Kind regards,
Dr. Habib Siddiqui

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