SATKHIRA — A man padlocked a century-old post office built during the British era in Ashashuni, Satkhira, claiming the property as his own. He also placed a signboard of his private business on the door. The post office was reopened after intervention by local administration and residents.
The incident took place Monday at the Shobhnali Post Office near Champaphul school gate in Ashashuni upazila.
Postmaster in charge Md. Khademul Islam said Ahsanullah Mim, son of Abdul Kader of Champaphul village, came with several people Monday morning and claimed the post office building stood on their land. He then padlocked the door and put up his business signboard.
The matter was immediately reported to senior officials and the upazila administration, he said.
The site was measured Tuesday in the presence of an assistant land office surveyor, police, the Shobhnali land office deputy and local residents.
Surveyor Amal Kumar said the post office sits on plot numbers 206 and 210. Plot 210 is government roadside land, but plot 206 is privately owned. He said the actual ownership cannot be determined without verifying records. Ahsanullah Mim later admitted his mistake when summoned to the land office and unlocked the post office door.
Kamal Sardar, a local resident, said: “This post office has been here since before I was born. Suddenly someone comes and padlocks it — that is unacceptable.”
Another resident, Khairul Islam, said people had been in trouble for two days while the post office was closed, with important letters and exam documents stuck inside.
Ashashuni Upazila Postmaster Mir Ahsanuzzaman said the post office is government property and the padlocking was regrettable. The matter has been reported to higher authorities, he said.
Ashashuni police station Officer-in-Charge Samchul Arefin said the matter has been referred to the land office as it relates to land. He warned that strict legal action will be taken if anyone shows such audacity in the future.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Foysal Ahmed said there is some complication regarding ownership of the land. Initial information shows that former owner Hemnath Majumdar had written over the post office land but it was not registered, he said. The matter is being examined in detail.
He said no one can obstruct the post office’s operations until ownership is clarified, and the matter will also be reported to the postmaster general.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report