A man named Abdul Jalil in Nandail, Mymensingh, is accused of selling 21 decimals of homestead land belonging to his own mother, Rahima, by falsely declaring her dead in official documents.
The family alleges the land was registered at the Nandail sub-registry office based on a forged death certificate and inheritance certificate.
The incident occurred in Rajabaria village, Sherpur union, Nandail upazila, Mymensingh. The allegation has caused a major stir in the area since it came to light.
According to local sources and interviews with members of the affected family, Abdul Jalil, son of the late Jamshed Ali of Rajabaria village, sold 21 decimals of homestead land belonging to his living mother, Rahima, to neighbor Mojibur Rahman about seven months ago, after falsely declaring her dead in the paperwork.
The matter came to the family’s attention recently when Mojibur Rahman brought people to try to take possession of the land, along with a betel-leaf plantation and pond nearby.
When a certified copy of the deed was later obtained from the Nandail sub-registry office, it revealed the shocking information — the living Rahima had been declared dead on paper and her property sold.
According to the deed, a total of 21 decimals of land was registered at the Nandail sub-registry office on Feb. 18 through three deeds, including Nos. 1154 and 1155. The buyer of the land was Mojibur Rahman, son of the late Amir Hossain of East Rajabaria village.
Md. Hossain Mia, son of Saiful Islam of the same village, signed as a witness to the deed. The deed was executed by deed writer Jhantu Sarkar.
Evidence found on-site that the ‘dead’ woman is alive
Visiting Rajabaria village on Saturday (Sept. 5) afternoon, it was found that the elderly woman named as deceased in the deed, Rahima, is alive. Sitting in front of her own house, the elderly woman said, with anger and tears in her eyes, “I’m not dead. Then why did they declare me dead to sell the land? I want strict justice for this.”
Present with her at the time were Abdul Jalil’s wife, Nasima Begum, his younger son, Oli Mia, the younger son’s wife, Hafsa Begum, and Rahima’s only daughter, Rokeya Begum.
Abdul Jalil’s wife, Nasima Begum, alleged that her husband sold the land despite his mother being alive by falsely declaring her dead. She claimed Abdul Jalil is addicted to gambling and has previously sold other family land to fund his gambling as well.
Younger son Oli Mia said, “My elder brother has long been addicted to gambling and has fallen into debt.” He alleged the land was sold secretly, with their mother falsely declared dead, specifically to pay off gambling debts.
Oli Mia questioned, “If our mother hasn’t died, who issued her fake death certificate? How was the inheritance certificate created based on that document? And how was the land deed registered at the sub-registry office using these papers?”
Deed writer says: ‘Not my responsibility’
Asked about the allegation, deed writer Jhantu Sarkar said, “I was given a death certificate and inheritance papers. I completed the deed based on those documents. Verifying them is not my responsibility.”
Asked about the matter, local union parishad member Md. Hamidul admitted to providing the death certificate and inheritance papers. He said, “I made a mistake, honestly. I’m looking into the matter now.”
Meanwhile, family members allege they have faced various forms of pressure and harassment since the incident came to light.