Family trapped in Nasirnagar for two weeks following land ownership dispute and blockade
Photo Collected
NASIRNAGAR, BRAHMANBARIA — A family in the Karmakarpada area of Haripur Union has remained trapped in their home for two weeks after neighbors allegedly blocked their access path with bamboo fencing, following a long-standing land dispute.
The victimized family reports that the blockade, erected on August 9 by individuals associated with neighbor Rafiq Miah, has restricted their movement and severed their access to essential facilities, including their latrine and tube well. The family claims the latrine was destroyed, while the tube well has been covered with tin and debris.
The dispute stems from a conflicting land transaction involving Montu Karmakar and the original landowner, Uttam Ray. Montu Karmakar claims he purchased 6.33 decimals of land from Ray in 2003 through a deed of agreement. Although the transaction was documented in 2014 with the assistance of a local deed writer, the document was never formally registered as Ray reportedly left the area before the sub-registrar office could process it. In 2017, Ray sold the same plot of land to Rafiq Miah, a resident currently living in Saudi Arabia, prompting multiple lawsuits from Karmakar over the past year.
Members of the Karmakar family alleged that they were initially locked out of their home on August 9. While they managed to regain entry with police assistance, the barricades—measuring approximately 20 feet at the doorstep and 25 feet across the courtyard—remain in place. Subarna Karmakar, a family member, stated that the lack of sanitary facilities has forced them to use outdoor areas at night, and they are currently dependent on neighbors for potable water. Montu Karmakar further alleged that he and his family have received death threats linked to the ongoing legal dispute.
Rafiq Miah’s wife, Janahara Begum, denied the allegations, maintaining that the fencing was erected within the boundaries of their own property and that no threats were issued. Uttam Ray defended his subsequent sale of the land, accusing Karmakar of obtaining his signature on the initial deed through fraudulent means and dismissing the family’s claims as fabricated.
Local officials acknowledged the complexity of the situation. Haripur Union Parishad Chairman Faruk Miah confirmed that both parties have laid claim to the land and stated his intention to mediate the dispute. Sub-Inspector Monir Hossain, the local bit officer for Nasirnagar Police Station, noted that while police intervened to remove portions of the obstruction following a written complaint, the parties have failed to appear for proposed mediation at the police station.
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