TDS CDesk:

Residents in Sunamganj Sadar have begun seizing the land purchased by controversial Additional DIG Gazi Mohammad Mozammel Haque for his farmhouse. Influential locals arrived at the border village of Chinnawra in Rangarchar Union on Monday morning and began occupying the land on Chinnawra Hill that the Additional DIG had bought.

They attempted to clear the trees on the hill and fence off the area with bamboo. On information, the administration reportedly arrived at the scene and intervened.

On 19 August, the national daily Kaler Kantho published a report titled “Additional DIG’s wife owns assets worth Tk6 thousand crores” which mentioned that Mozammel owns around 100 bighas of land in Sunamganj’s Hasaura.

Environmentalists have expressed concerns that reckless occupation of this land, which is hilly and has a mountainous terrain, could lead to environmental disasters. Therefore, they have urged that this land be placed under the administration’s control.

According to local sources, a portion of this land was purchased privately, while some parts are government-owned khas land. It is reported that a local servant of DIG Mozammel looks after these lands. A dispute arose between him and several local influential figures, leading to a mediation meeting recently in Kandigaon village.

During the mediation, a local representative allegedly encouraged the locals to seize the land, calling it illegal property of the DIG. Following the meeting, some locals, armed with spades, hoes, and bamboo, began occupying the hill. However, since the land is hilly, there is a risk of environmental damage due to such indiscriminate occupation.

Several development activists promptly informed Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser to Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Following her directives, the district administration instructed the Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mausumi Mannan to control the situation.

Development activist Salehin Chowdhury Shubho mentioned that a dispute between a local landowner and one of the DIG’s employees led to the mediation in Kandigaon. He heard that the local UP Chairman labeled the DIG’s property as illegal during the meeting and encouraged people to seize it.

Rangarchar UP Chairman Abdul Hai said, “There was a mediation regarding the dispute between the DIG’s employee and the locals. Various issues were discussed. The allegation that I encouraged the seizure is not true. The UNO madam spoke to me about the matter. However, if the locals want to seize the land, there is nothing I can do.” He added that some portions of the DIG’s land are also government-owned khas land.

Sunamganj Sadar UNO Mausumi Mannan said, “Upon hearing about the hill seizure, we set off to the site. I have instructed the local UP Chairman to control the occupiers. We will submit a report on the matter after returning from the scene.”

Gazi Mozammel owns about 20 acres of land in Uttar Kandigaon, Chinnawra Hasaura mouza, and another 30 acres in Bongao and Sundowra mouza under Rangarchar Union in Sunamganj Sadar Upazila. The authenticity of this information was confirmed by Kamal Hossain, Assistant Land Officer of Sunamganj Sadar Union Land Office.