Moyezuddin, the local ward BNP president, has been accused of trying to seize land belonging to the Fultala Panidubi Darus Sunnah Dakhil Madrasa in Boda upazila, Panchagarh.
The madrasa authorities say the land has been in the madrasa’s possession for about 43 years since its founding, and that they have paid the land tax on it regularly. The madrasa says Moyezuddin’s father, Mahiruddin, donated the land in the madrasa’s name in 1983. But Moyezuddin suddenly began dumping sand there last Saturday, which closed about 10 shops. Madrasa students held a human chain over the incident, demanding an end to the attempt to seize the land and the protection of the madrasa’s property.
The madrasa’s acting superintendent, Lovely Begum, said the land has been in the madrasa’s possession for a long time and the land tax is paid regularly. Moyezuddin suddenly tried to take possession last Saturday by dumping sand on the madrasa’s land, she said. Locks were also put on shops built by the institution in front of the madrasa. She said the administration’s intervention is wanted to protect the madrasa’s land and stop the attempt at seizure.
The madrasa’s president, Farhad Hossain, said: we have held a human chain in protest at the illegal seizure of the madrasa’s land. We want the administration’s intervention to recover the madrasa’s land, reopen the shops that have been closed and improve the environment for education.
He alleged that this ward’s BNP president Moyezuddin, his son and several others together took over the madrasa’s shops and dumped sand there. He said the administration’s help is wanted to recover the madrasa’s property.
Responding to the allegation, the local ward BNP president Moyezuddin said the land had not been seized by using any party influence. He said: we have been making complaints about that land for a long time that it is ours. Last Saturday we took possession of the land.
Boda upazila executive officer Rabiul Islam said a complaint had been received from the madrasa. The land officer of the union concerned has been told to look into the matter and directed to submit a report. How the incident occurred will become clear only once the report is received, he said.