Case filed in Kushtia against MP Nusrat's father over house vandalism and land grabbing

A case has been filed against Abdul Halim, father of reserved women's seat MP and National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Nusrat Tabassum, on allegations of house vandalism, assault, looting and land grabbing.

Idris Ali (67), a resident of the Bagowan Tension Mor area of Mathurapur Union in Daulatpur upazila, filed the case at Daulatpur police station in Kushtia on Saturday (14 November). Abdul Halim is the sole named accused in the case; another eight to ten unnamed people have also been made accused.

According to the case statement, Idris Ali bought about four and a quarter kathas of land from Abdul Halim's two brothers around five years ago. He took possession of the land, built a house there and began living with his family. Abdul Halim later tried to grab the land.

Following that dispute, Abdul Halim and his associates allegedly attacked Idris Ali's house with local weapons on the morning of 13 September last year. The attackers vandalised the fence, doors and windows, tin roof and furniture of the house, causing damage worth about Tk 250,000.

The statement further says that when they tried to resist, Idris Ali and his wife Mina Khatun were beaten with sticks. Goods worth about Tk 150,000, including three beds and ten bundles of tin sheets, were also allegedly looted from the house.

Idris Ali stated that after he sought justice from local people over the incident, Abdul Halim instead filed a case against him at Daulatpur police station on 16 September last year, in which he had to go to jail. After being released on bail, he learned that Abdul Halim had grabbed the land using the influence of MP Nusrat Tabassum. He also alleges he was threatened with being framed in an arms case if he made trouble, and for that reason left the area with his family and took shelter at his in-laws' home.

The statement also says a fire broke out at Abdul Halim's house on 12 November, and Idris Ali learned that attempts were being made to implicate him and his family members in the case over that incident. He said insecurity and fear had prevented him from filing a case all this time.

Plaintiff Idris Ali said, 'I bought the land from Abdul Halim's brothers. The purchased land is in a bamboo grove area below Halim's house. I have filed the case at the police station essentially over that matter.'

Asked about the allegations, Abdul Halim said, 'I know nothing about the case. Idris Ali does not live in the area. He has disputes with many people there. As far as I know, he has been absconding since after 5 August 2024.' He added, 'There was an issue over my brothers' land sale. Perhaps instigated by someone, Idris Ali has now come and filed a case. I do not yet know the details.'

Daulatpur police station's officer-in-charge Khaledur Rahman confirmed the case, saying a man named Idris Ali filed it against Abdul Halim on Saturday morning. Sub-inspector Mohsin Chowdhury of Daulatpur police station, the case's investigating officer, said he has been given charge of the investigation and legal action will be taken after the probe.