Expressing bitter condemnation and protest against the ransack of the residence of 15 landless families from the British regime abandoned railway land in Joymonirhat union under Bhurungamari sub-district in Kurigram district, 11 organizations including Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Bangladesh Kishani Sabha, Bangladesh Adivasi Samity, Bangladesh Bhumin Samity, Bangladesh Bhasman Shramik Union, Bangladesh Bhasman Nari Shramik Union, Bangladesh Grameen Buddhijibi Front, Ganochhaya Sanskritic Kendro, Revolutionary Youth Association, Bangladesh Shramik Federation, Bangladesh Bakolite Shromik Union released a joint statement.

Eviction of landless people in Kurigram on 2 October 2018.

In the statement the central leaders said we know the license or lease-out provision on railway land properties has been stopped for a longer time due to various types of corruptions in railway department. In such a circumstance, to evict landless people through damaging their houses without any notice or rehabilitation is a gross violation of human rights. It is learned that today from the morning to afternoon this heinous incidents was being perpetrated by an influential, locally called Razzak Professor in association with some corrupt railway officials of Lalmonirhat Railway Authority in exchange of huge amount of bribes. The evicted landless people are now living under open sky in sub-human life. This type of eviction drive will give add to the image crisis of the government before the upcoming national election.

The leaders of the organizations drawing the notice of the government demanded the re-back of the houses of the affected landless people with compensation, and exemplary punishment to those engaged in the incidents. In the interest of landless people the leaders are also in the opinion in the statement that they would take shelter of the Higher Court if necessary.

2 September 2018

Statement Sender
Zayed Iqbal Khan
General Secretary
Bangladesh Krishok Federation