The Narayanganj deputy commissioner has promised Abul Kalam Azad, the Sonargaon youth who was allegedly harassed for trying to catch the prime minister’s attention, that the administration will protect his land.
Published : 06 Aug 2015, 11:41 PM
Anisur Raman Mian spoke to Azad and his uncle Nuru Uddin at his office on Wednesday after bdnews24.com reports on his solo protest in front of the Ganabhaban sparked intense discussions.
RAB arrested Uddin’s son ‘Sohel’ allegedly with Yaba on last Sunday night.
Earlier in that day, Azad stood in front of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official residence with a placard to draw her attention to a land dispute.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad called the Narayanganj DC on Wednesday and said he would like to speak to the youth.
He would be informed when the meeting would be held.
On Wednesday afternoon, Azad and Uddin met DC Mian at his office.
Azad said his father Abdul Khaleq sold a 15-decimal piece of land to Metro Knitting and Dyeing owner Amal Poddar, who is setting up a factory in the area.
He alleged Poddar was pushing them to sell two other plots of 19 decimal and 11 decimal.
Poddar allegedly refused to pay the money for the 15-decimal land, saying that he would not pay unless the other plots were sold to him.
Azad said Poddar’s nephew Bappi Poddar framed Sohel with the help of RAB.
Locals have said they never saw Sohel smoke, let alone do drugs.
DC Mian told reporters on Thursday he could not do anything about the arrest of Sohel.
Mian said he spoke to RAB-11 commander Lt Col Anwar Latif Khan over the matter.
“He said they don’t know Amal Poddar. He has not filed any compliant with them. He said they arrested Sohel with 320 pieces of Yaba tablets following information gathered by the detectives for a month,” he said.
Azad said his family did not want to sell the 15-decimal land now and demanded the administration’s intervention to cancel the contract and return the land.
Mian, however, said he would not be able to do that but would help them get the money back from Poddar.
He said the administration would also help them to retain the other plots.
“We’ve assured them that no one will be able to take possession of their land without their consent,” he said.
Mian said he discussed the matter with Poddar.
Azad also alleged that Poddar had already started filling up the low-lying land they were not ready to sell.
Poddar told bdnews24.com: “I’ve bought the land from them at a rate than higher the value.”
“No one’s land was grabbed or filled forcibly,” he claimed.