Landless evicted to rehabilitate landless!

The eviction at Baradal village took place on Wednesday.

This correspondent along with a group of newsmen visited the area yesterday and on Thursday and talked to some of the victims, now under the open sky in nearby areas. All the evicted people are poor and landless.

They said they had been living in the government land for about 40 years. On Wednesday, about 150 people led by Mostafapur Union Parishad chairman and BNP leader Samsuddin Mondal swooped on their houses. They also looted some of houses and forcibly evicted them from the area, saying that a rehabilitation project fort landless people will be built there.

They also claimed that a Magistrate and some policemen were present when the eviction took place.

They alleged that they were not given any prior notice to leave the area. But some musclemen of the UP chairman threatened them earlier to vacate the lands, they alleged.

The evicted families include those of Bara Harish, Nikhil, Mrinal, Shubash, Dhalu, Dut Kumar, Shotosh, Khargo, Dhannajoy, Parash, Debendra, Dizen, Manik, Butha, Kali Pada Abinash, Choita, Ratan Singh, Atul, Bablu, Dulal, Jithu Murmu, Raban Kisku, Balu Maddi, Shufal Maddi and Sulza Maddi.

When contact, UP chairman Samsuddin Modal told this correspondent that every thing was done as per an order from the Deputy Commissioner's office. The government lands will be used for an Abashan Prokolpa (rehabilitation project) where about 150 homeless families will rehabilitate.

When contacted, Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Shurut Jaman said he has asked Parbotipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharifuddin Ahmed to visit the spot. He said there is a plan for a rehabilitation project on the land.

Parbotipur UNO Sharifuddin Ahmed, when contacted, said he visited the spot and talked to the evicted people. He said he will take steps to arrange a shelter for them.