Lawmaker-brokered land deal in Moulvibazar draws scrutiny amid court-ordered status quo
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A long-standing land dispute in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila has escalated into a legal and political controversy, following a controversial intervention by a local member of parliament. The conflict, involving 150 acres of land in the Boromchal union, pits the Forestry Department against the Ichlachara Punji—a community of Khasia and Garo indigenous residents—over property ownership rights that have been the subject of multiple court cases for years.
In 2022, a court ordered both the Forestry Department and the Punji community to maintain the status quo on the land. Despite this judicial mandate, the situation took an unexpected turn when local residents, who had occupied the land for over a decade to operate commercial tree plantations, vacated the site following an agreement facilitated by local lawmaker Shaukatul Islam.
Reports indicate that approximately 15 years ago, a group of 16 individuals seized the disputed land, eventually planting nearly 5,000 trees. In 2022, these occupants sold the trees for 1.6 million taka to a local named Tipu Chowdhury. When Chowdhury began clearing trees, the Forestry Department intervened and filed multiple cases, citing illegal deforestation and land encroachment.
Recently, the Ichlachara Punji members sought assistance from Shaukatul Islam to regain control of the property. According to local sources, the lawmaker directed local opposition political figures to broker a settlement. The resulting arrangement allegedly involved the Punji community paying 1.9 million taka in compensation for the trees to the occupants, who then relinquished the land.
Mohammad Abdur Rahman, the divisional forest officer for Sylhet, questioned the legitimacy of the settlement, noting that it directly contradicts the standing court order. He confirmed that the Forestry Department has reported the encroachment attempt to higher authorities and intends to pursue rigorous legal action against those violating the status quo.
Lawmaker Shaukatul Islam confirmed his role in the mediation process during a telephone interview but declined to explain how a third-party settlement could be legally reconciled with a court-ordered stay of proceedings. He directed further inquiries to local political figures who assisted in the negotiations. While these intermediaries confirmed the lawmaker’s involvement in brokering the deal, they distanced themselves from the reported financial transaction.
Tensions remain high in the area. On July 25, Punji residents entered the land to clear brush and plant betel nut saplings, an act that prompted the Forestry Department to file a formal police complaint. Local administration officials, including the assistant commissioner for land, have inspected the site, while the Kulaura police station has expressed concerns regarding potential threats to public order. Despite the official warnings, residents of the Ichlachara Punji insist they have no intention of surrendering the land, emboldened by the lawmaker’s recent intervention.
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