Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.PM’s intervention sought to get back grabbed land
City Desk
Members of the blind community in Gazipur have now sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to get back their land from the hands of Nurul Islam Babul and giving him punishment for killing their three fellows.
The blind made the plea at a human chain in front of the National Press Club recently with a banner that reads: “Save another 45 families of the blind of Pepsigate at Kaliakoir in Gazipur from the clutches of Babul’s terrorist Hazi Osman.”
They have been leading a vagrant life for eleven years being evicted by Babul. “Only the government can help us get back habitats.”
At the human chain, the blind also chanted slogans against Babul’s repression of them and urged immediate rehabilitation of the evicted families.
The blind held banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding compensation and rehabilitation of those victimised by Babul during the establishment of ‘Hunter’ beer factory in Kaliakoir upazila.Visually impaired Mojibor Rahman, general secretary of Gazipur district unit of National Blind Welfare Association, said, forest department gave 14 bighas of land to 45 blind families. The blind built a village named ‘Ondhertek Palli’ there. But Babul grabbed the land and built a factory to produce Hunter beer.
“The blind were living on the land peacefully,” Mojibor said in his narrative. “But things went awry in 2001 when Babul and his gong turned up one day. They evicted the visually impaired people from their homesteads.”
Three blind people-Salim, Barek and Safaj Uddin-were allegedly killed by Babul and his aides as they protested the land grabbing, he mentioned.
Another visually impaired, Jalil Uddin, cried his eyes out and said, “Even, the blind like us were not immune from Babul’s cruel clutches. We have become destitute losing our last resort. We’re now passing our days either on footpaths or under trees. We’re yet to get back our land despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned.”
Babul and his associates are still at large in spite of the killings, he went on saying.
“One day Babul’s cadres came to kill us by running a truck over us. However, we narrowly escaped. As Babul occupied our land, our curse is on him. The Almighty Allah will punish him.”
Jainal Abedin, president of Gazipur Social Welfare Rehabilitation Association, said they founded the Blind Welfare Association in 1985. It was registered with the Social Welfare Directorate.
“In view of our demand, the then deputy commissioner of Gazipur gave us the land. We constructed homesteads on the land and had lived there for 15 years. But Babul and his cadres evicted us,” he said.
Visually impaired Abbas Uddin and Moslem Talukder are among the 40 families who have been rendered destitute and panhandlers due to encroachment on their land by Jamuna Group.
On February 27, leaders of the blind people’s association lodged a complaint with the Gazipur DC seeking the return of their land and punishment to Babul for grabbing the land and killing the blind men.
They also submitted a memorandum to the premier through the DC the same day.
Meanwhile, the High Court issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks as to why it should not be directed to allocate permanent lease of certain chunk of lands in Gazipur-earlier given to the visually impaired people and allegedly grabbed by Jamuna Group-to the blind people concerned again.
A division bench comprising Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Md Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order following a writ filed by Blind Welfare Association president Sahaj Uddin.
The court also directed the government to maintain status quo on the living of the 45 blind families comprising 350 persons at Andhertek.
It is alleged that Babul has long violated a directive from the Prime Minister’s Office for him to return the blind’s land.
Home secretary, land secretary and Gazipur DC were directed to recover the land from the clutches of Jamuna Group and rehouse the blind families with adequate compensation.
The above-mentioned officials were to submit a compliance report to the PMO on October 25, 2002.
