Human Chain in Naogaon's Patnitala Demands Protection for 800-Year-Old 'Jogir Ghop' and Its 300 Bighas of Debottar Land

Local residents have formed a human chain in Chakbhabani village of Amair Union, Patnitala upazila of Naogaon, demanding protection for the historic 12th-century shrine 'Jogir Ghop' and its roughly 300 bighas of debottar (religiously endowed) land. The programme was held at the Jogir Ghop premises on Saturday noon.

Local people allege that the historic site, known for nearly 800 years as a place of worship of the Nath community, now faces an existential crisis. They allege that an influential local group is scheming to grab the roughly 300 bighas of debottar land held under the shrine.

The human chain was organised jointly by the organisation 'Alo' and residents of the Chakbhabani Jogir Ghop area, with the support of the Human Rights Culture Foundation.

Speakers said a syndicate has long been trying to occupy the property at night and by fabricating documents. They expressed fear that the heritage would be lost forever if the administration does not act quickly.

The human chain demanded an immediate end to the illegal attempts to grab the debottar property and legal protection for the historic site through demarcation of its boundaries. Speakers warned that otherwise a larger movement would be launched together with local residents.

Sekainath Mahanta, the sebayet (custodian priest) of the temple, said at the human chain: 'Our ancestors protected this shrine bit by bit. It is the heart of our religion and culture. If this property is lost today, our very identity will be erased.'

Local residents Jagadish Singh, Nais Parveen and Azizur Rahman Swapan, among others, also spoke at the human chain.

A visit to the site shows several ancient structures in the Jogir Ghop compound, including the Gorakhnath temple, the Bimala Devi temple and a Shiva temple. The tombs of the Nath community's accomplished saints lie beside them.

Local elders said Jogir Ghop is not merely an ordinary place of worship; it is a sacred pilgrimage site for the saints and gurus of the Nath faith. Every year, from the 10th to the 12th of Baishakh in the Bangla calendar, a three-day traditional fair of Gorakhnath and Bimala Devi is held there, when the village fills with countless devotees, bauls and ascetics from home and abroad.

According to the elders, around 300 bighas of debottar land are held in the name of Jogir Ghop. At one time, the income from this land paid for the temple's daily worship and hospitality for ascetics arriving from far away. Over time, however, local influential people and land-grabbing syndicates set their sights on this vast property.

Local people allege that attempts to swallow up the property through forgery and forcible occupation have been going on for a long time. As those attempts have recently intensified, intense anger and fear have spread among local residents.