Staff Reporter :
An allegation has been raised that the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust has made all arrangements to force the residents of two houses in the capital’s Wari area to leave their allotments, a move that is frustrating a High Court order.
The residents were living in 4 No. Hatkhola Road houses under Wari Police Station of the city. The houses were also allotted by the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust as one family is heir of a freedom fighter and another one is a former official of the Trust.
The Trust in 2018 took an initiative to construct a multistoried building in that land which was allotted to almost 14/15 freedom fighters’ families and former employees of the Trust. They took the decision at the 40th meeting of the Executive Committee of the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust.
The Trust asked the residents to quit their allotted residential premises within December 25 in 2018. The organization finally managed to drive out most of the families after a negotiation except those two families. Later the Trust started its construction activities for its multistoried building.
However, two families who did not agree to leave their houses and secured High Court stay order against the eviction notice of the Trust. Since the High Court issued stay order against eviction of the two houses, the trust is not directly evicting them, alleged the members of the two families adding that all steps are being taken so that no one can stay in those houses. Md Abu Sayeed Khan Shahid, a member of one of the victim families, said, “They (Kalyan Trust authorities) have cut our electricity lines. Garbage is piled up in front of the houses. They have created such a situation so that we become compelled to leave home. They are also threatening us by sending people.”
He alleged that the steps of the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust are frustrating the High Court order given against the eviction notice of the Trust.
Family members of Abdul Barek, who was a former employee of the Trust, said Barek was forcefully sent on retirement and he was not getting his pension money from the authorities for 27 years.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust SM Mahbubur Rahman denied the allegation raised by the two families. He said the two families are living in the allotted houses of the Muktijoddha Kalyan Trust unduly.
The official also said, “Md Abu Sayeed Khan Shahid is a brother of a deceased freedom fighter. But Brothers are not included among those who can enjoy benefits as heirs of deceased freedom fighters. But we are not telling him anything because of the High Court’s stay order. And for non-payment of bills, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) cut off their electricity lines.”
He also said, “Apart from this, Abdul Barek is a former employee of the Trust. He has no legal right to get any allotment there. But he also got High Court stay order in his favor. However, he will get an amount of pension money from the Kalyan Trust. But he is not able to agree with the Kalyan Trust in this regard. As a result, the issue of payment of his pension is still pending.”
