Four Shops Locked and Seized in Hatiya During Trading, Swechchhasebak Dal Leader Accused

In Hatiya, Noakhali, Swechchhasebak Dal leader Dinaj Uddin of Jahajmara Union has been accused of locking four shops and seizing them over a land ownership dispute. Victim Nasir Uddin alleged that shopkeepers were forced out while trading was under way at the market and locks were put on the shops.

The incident took place at around 4pm on Sunday in the bus stand area of Ward No. 2 of Jahajmara Union in Hatiya upazila. On Monday, Nasir Uddin filed a written complaint with the assistant superintendent of police seeking redress.

The accused, Dinaj Uddin, is the son of Monir Uddin of Ward No. 2 of Jahajmara Union. He is the senior joint convener of the same union's Swechchhasebak Dal.

The complaint says local resident Nasir Uddin and his brother have long built shop premises on their own land, rented them out and remained in possession. It also claims they hold the papers relating to ownership and possession of the land.

Nasir Uddin alleged that for the past few years Dinaj Uddin and his father have been claiming ownership of the place. They have filed a case in court over it, which is under trial.

The written complaint further says that on Sunday afternoon Dinaj Uddin and several others, carrying local weapons, forcibly entered the shop premises. They drove out the shopkeepers, who were busy trading at the time, and put locks on the shops. When Nasir Uddin and his brother tried to resist, they were intimidated and threatened with death, the complaint alleged.

Nasir Uddin applied to the assistant superintendent of police for the locks on the shop premises to be opened, for legal action to be taken against the accused after reviewing the relevant papers, and for the security of their property to be ensured.

The assistant superintendent of police's office has assigned the investigation to Mominul Hoque, in-charge of the Jahajmara police outpost.

Mominul Hoque said: 'The assistant superintendent of police has verbally instructed me to investigate the matter. Going to the spot, I found the truth of the incident of locking the shop premises. No one can lock anyone's premises without a court order. Further legal steps will be taken against them.'

The accused Dinaj Uddin, on the other hand, said: 'In 2016, they occupied this land of ours by showing the influence of the Awami League government. After that we filed a civil case. After the fall of the government, we could not go into possession because of the navy. Yesterday a meeting was held at the office of the Hatiya police station officer-in-charge in the presence of both sides. There they could not show any papers of ownership. This place is ours, so we have taken possession.'