A group of miscreants trying to grab forty-nine decimal land worth Tk 3cr of minority Christian community by using name of journalist and Bangabandhu at Padrishibpur under Bakerganj upazila of Barisal.
After the incident more than two thousand members of local Christian community are passing days with fear of loosing properties and lives.
Journalists from Barisal after visiting the spot and talking with both sides found that the grabbers constructed tin-shed house on that land. They also erected there signboards of ‘southern regional office of the weekly Crime Diary’ and billboard with photo of Bangabandhu as ‘tributes to the all martyrs including Bangabandhu and his family members by the Crime Diary family’.
According to documents , the land is situated on S.A Khatian No 101, Dag No. 646 at Araibaki Mouza of Padrishibpur was purchased on May 22, 1961 from Rizia Begum by Father Liu Gomes, head of the then local Catholic Church.
Father Liu Gomes through a trustee deed on August 14, 1995 formed ‘ Reverend Father Liu Gomes Welfare Trust’ and also included this land property under that trust, said Martin C Gomes, vice president of the trust.
Local Christian community people using this land property for their welfare since last 53 years and all legal and land revenue documents like mutation, revenue and taxes were cleared till up to date, Martin Gomes added.
The trust has total 21 acres of land and yearly earning Tk. 18 lakhs from that properties expending for distributing scholarships to poor students, operating shelter home for the disables, medical center and other social welfare activities, said Reverend Father Lazarus Gomes, president of the trust.
Since last few days a group of grabbers trying to grab that property. General diaries no. 285 and 697 lodged in this connection by the trust on December 7 and 17, 2013 with Bakerganj police station, Rev. Lazarus told.
On early Saturday a group of people led by one Helaluddin armed with sharp and lethal weapons forcibly constructed about 100-feet long tin-shed house, erected signboards and billboards on that property, said Basil Gomes, secretary of the trust.
Helaluddin claimed that Rizia Begum gave him a ‘power of attorney’ on May 20, 2013 and he lodged a case claiming ownership of the land with lower court on May 23, 2013.
