Today, October 30, 2023, at 12 noon in the organization of North Char Shahjalal landless families in Dashmina Upazila of Patuakhali district, with the cooperation of Bangladesh Krishok Federation and Bangladesh Kishani Sabha, several hundred of landless men and women of North Charshahjalal Mouja of Ward No. 7 of No. 9 Char Borhan Union in Dashmina Upazila came to Patuakhali Launch Station and assembled. From Launch Station, the landless people marched around various roads and gathered in front of Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner’s office. The rally was presided over by North Char Shahjalal landless leader Abdul Barek Sardar and conducted by landless leader Maqbul Hossain.

Central Committee President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation Comrade Badrul Alam spoke as the chief guest and General Secretary Zayed Iqbal Khan, Assistant General Secretary Abdus Satter Howlader, Patuakhali spoke as special guests. District Unit General Secretary Kayes Mahmood, North Char Shahjalal landless leader Abdur Razzak Howlader, Abdul Khalek Sardar, Mokhles Uddin, Khokon Munsi, Abdul Rashid Talukder, Shohrab Hossain Howlader, Md. Shah Alam Kha, Sagar Ali Palwan, Rorfiq Molla, Md. Chohrab Bayati, woman landless leader Manuja Begum, Beauty Begum, Kulsum Begum also spoke.

At the end of the rally, the 10-member landless representative team presented a memorandum signed by 157 landless families including 3-point demands to the honorable Prime Minister through District Commissioner Patuakhali.

The speakers at the rally immediately demanded to cancel the fake settlements created with the help of some dishonest officials and employees of local administration in North Charshahjalal, provide Khasland settlements among the real landless people living in Chars and prosecute the persons who created fake settlements on Khasland by forgery. In their speech, they sought the intervention of the honorable Prime Minister to resolve the crisis caused by the fake settlement and take immediate steps to maintain peace and order in Charshahjalal.

Central President of Bangladesh Krishok Federation Comrade Badrul Alam said in his speech that there are more than 50 Lakh acres of Khasland in the country. In order to protect the rights of the landless in this land, the Agricultural Khas Land Settlement and Management Committee should be activated in the entire country and necessary measures should be taken. He also said that land is the source of people’s livelihood. Land guarantees food sovereignty. Therefore, no corruption and manipulation of land will be tolerated. The government has to solve the corruption and irregularities that have taken place in North Shahjalal. For some dishonest officials and employees of the government are involved in it. He also urged to stop all kinds of land-related irregularities through strong movement across the country. He called for a strong land movement to demand food sovereignty nationwide.

General Secretary Zayed Iqbal Khan said in his speech that the complexity related to the land tenure of North Charshahjalal has been going on for a long time. The government can solve it if it wants. But vested interests have kept the problem alive for decades. Even though we continue to try to solve it in an organizational manner, there is still no solution due to the lack of goodwill of the local administration. He sought the direct intervention of the Hon’ble Prime Minister in this regard.

Demands mentioned in the memorandum:

1. North Char Shahjalal khasland fake settlements should be cancelled

2. Landless families living in North Char Shahjalal for 31 years should be given Khasland settlement

3. Fake settlement of North Char Shahjalal Khasland through forgery should be prosecuted

30 October 2023

News Sender
(Maqbul Hossain)
North Char Shahjalal Landless Families