chtnews.com
News No. 175/2010, December 05, 2010
THREE have been reports of fresh attempts to grab lands by Bengali settlers in Khagrachari.
The land that the settlers are trying to grab belongs to two Jummas in Lemuchari of Mahalchari Upazila – Sunil Kanti Chakma son of late Chandra Kumar Chakma (8 acres) and Rupon Talukder (43) son of Gyana Lal Talukder (3 acres).
The army is providing full support to the settlers, sources said.
According to various sources, a group of 100 – 150 Bengali settlers entered the land at 9am today, and were building houses there.
Soldiers from Mahalchari zone and Kengelchari sub-zone were present at the spot while the settlers were occupying the land.
Lt. Col, Harunur Rashid is currently in charge of Mahalchari zone.
Two of the marauding settlers have been identified as Md. Osman son of Rofatul Sheikh and Abdur Rashid son of Boshor Bhuiyan – both from Lemuchari village.
During the state of emergency between 2007 and 2008, the settlers grabbed about 3 acres of land belonging to Rupon Talukder.
About a month ago, the settlers made fresh attempts to take the rest 3 acres from him, but were temporarily deterred when he filed a case.
Mahalchari Upazila Nirbahi officer Shafiul Arif is reported to have told Sona Ratan Chakma, Mahalchari Upazila chairman: “The army is directly involved in it, so I am not in a position to do anything.”
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