Armed Attackers Destroy 60 Houses in Ashrayan Project, Displace Residents (Video)

In an armed attack, land grabbers forcibly evicted residents and demolished 60 houses from the Mujib Centennial Ashrayan Project in Pabna.

Now, the affected families have lost their basic shelter and are forced to live under the open sky in dire conditions. Local residents are demanding punitive action against the perpetrators of this brutal act and calling for the rehabilitation of these impoverished victims.

However, according to the latest reports, despite notifying the authorities, no action has been taken yet, as confirmed by Sultan Mahmud Khan, Chairman of Bhadara Union Parishad.

It should be noted that, to provide a home for the landless and poor, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League initiated the Ashrayan Project, under which houses were built for the homeless. As part of the “Mujib Centenary” initiative to mark the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the project aimed to provide shelter to the landless. Under this program, nearly 1.4 million homeless people across the country were provided homes.

As part of this grand initiative, 60 landless families in the West Jamua area of Pabna Sadar’s Bhadara Union received homes. However, after the anti-government protests in July and August, land grabbing began across the country. Land grabbers, mainly from the local BNP, Jamaat, and Chhatra Shibir, started forcibly evicting the homeless and occupying their houses. In some places, they are renting out these houses and collecting rent, while in others, regular extortion is being carried out.

The local influential circle set their eyes on this government land in the Jamua area. They began attempting to claim the land as their own and illegally occupy it.

On the night of August 8, armed terrorists forced the residents of the Ashrayan Project to leave their homes at gunpoint. Those who attempted to resist were beaten and left bloodied. The attackers forcibly vacated the area and destroyed all the houses in the Ashrayan Project. The perpetrators, including Akram Pramanik, Ummat Pramanik, Akkas Pramanik, and Ismail Pramanik, who are part of the local land-grabbing circle, hung a signboard claiming that a case was ongoing in the senior assistant judge’s court regarding the land.

Several residents of the Ashrayan Project, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We had no house or land before. The government gave us two kathas of land and a house two years ago. Life was good until then. But after August 5, local armed men began forcing us to leave our homes. Eventually, they destroyed our furniture and, at gunpoint, forced us out of our homes. We have no place to go and are now living in unbearable conditions.”

Another victim said, “After receiving the house, life was going well. I planted fruit trees and vegetables in my yard. But the terrorists have destroyed my well-kept house and looted my furniture. I now have nowhere to shelter my family. We have had to set up a temporary house on the embankment in this cold weather. Our demand from the current government is that, apart from taking exemplary action against the culprits, we should be rehabilitated.”

It is alleged that the Pramanik group is closely connected to local BNP and Jamaat leaders. They have long-standing ties with both political parties. Their armed terrorists were active in the anti-government protests of July-August. After August 5, they started attacking the Awami League leaders and workers in the area, destroying their homes, seizing their businesses, and establishing a reign of terror. In line with this, they have also occupied the government land of the Ashrayan Project.

The families who lost their homes in the Ashrayan Project are now living under the open sky in miserable conditions.

Local common people have voiced their opposition to this incident, demanding action against the real culprits and the rehabilitation of the affected families. However, despite being informed, no action has been taken by the authorities, according to Union Parishad Chairman Sultan Mahmud Khan.

He said, “Upon hearing about the incident, I went to the scene. The families who lost their homes are living in extreme hardship. Most of the houses have been demolished. The remaining houses have no doors or windows. Later, I informed higher district officials. However, for unknown reasons, no action has been taken so far.”

Pabna District Commissioner Mohammad Mofizul Islam stated that the site has been inspected and that action will be taken against the culprits after an investigation. Additionally, arrangements will be made for the rehabilitation of the victims.