Jamaat denies political link to land dispute

Sirajganj, Oct 18: Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami in Ullapara has rejected reports alleging that a group of people cultivated and occupied a government-owned playground in Naokair village, claiming that the land dispute is a local matter with no political connection.

At a press conference, Ullapara upazila Jamaat Ameer Professor Shahjahan Ali said there had never been a playground on the disputed land.

Recently, allegations surfaced that Hekmat Ali Sarkar, president of Jamaat’s ward No. 9 unit in Solop union, and several others had cultivated around four bighas of government-owned land in Naokair Purba Para using a tractor.

In response, Shahjahan Ali said around 82 bighas of land in Naokair mouza under Solop union were recorded as government-owned khas land. According to him, the ancestors of several local families, including those of Moneam Khan, Sanowar Sarkar, Omar Sarkar, Al-Amin, Nur Box, Ansab Ali and Hekmat Ali, had previously held records for the land.

He claimed that after the land was incorporated into the government’s khas records, local residents continued to cultivate it, considering it ancestral property.

Shahjahan Ali further alleged that during the Awami League government’s tenure, former Solop union chairman and engineer Shawkat Osman used political influence to initiate an Ashrayan housing project on the land, triggering opposition from local residents.

He claimed that when local men and women protested, the then assistant commissioner (land), upazila nirbahi officer and police were used to carry out attacks on them. The incidents reportedly resulted in casualties, while some residents were arrested and sent to jail following cases filed against them.

He said that after the housing project was not implemented, residents who had previously cultivated the land resumed farming. He alleged that some quarters were now politicising the issue and creating confusion.

The Jamaat leader reiterated that the land dispute was an internal village matter and had no political connection with his organisation. He also denied that the disputed land had ever been used as a playground.

The organisation’s written statement said the dispute should not be portrayed as a political issue and should instead be treated as a local conflict.

Upazila Jamaat working committee member Rafiqul Islam Pradhan, Solop union Jamaat Ameer Alauddin and other leaders were present at the press conference.