Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: A case has been filed against 109 people, including former Awami League MP Zafar Alam and Bangladesh Kalyan Party Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Birpratik and recently defunct Jatiya Sangsad MP, on the charges of expropriation and looting of a 200-acre shrimp farm in Chakria, Cox’s Bazar.
Ali Haider, son of Tofazzal Hossain, a resident of Pukpukuria area of Ward No. 3 of Phansiakhali Union of Chakaria Upazila, filed the case in the Chakaria Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate Court on Wednesday (August 28).
Court Judge Prabal Chakraborty took cognizance of the case and ordered the Cox’s Bazar Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate.
Chiringa Union Parishad (UP) chairman Jamal Uddin and former chairman Jasim Uddin, Md. have been accused in the case. Amin, Md. Mamun, Babul, Zamir Uddin, Ziabul Haque, Nurul Amin Commissioner, Najem Uddin Prakash Naju, Mizan, Awami League Leader Nagu Saudagar, Zamir Uddin, Rezaul Member, Najem Uddin Saudagar, Kaushar Uddin Kashir, former Chairman Badiul Alam, and 39 others by name. 60 to 70 people have been shown as unidentified accused.
In the statement of the case, the plaintiff Ali Haider mentioned that he had been farming shrimp by leasing a 200-acre plot of land in Charandwip of Chakaria upazila in 2005. After four years, the accused have been demanding Rs 50 lakhs from his reputed leasehold shrimp. If the subscription was not paid, they threatened to occupy the premises.
It is mentioned in the Ezhar that, in view of this, on January 1, 2009, at 10 a.m., the accused, led by Zafar Alam, the former Member of Parliament of Cox’s Bazar-1 (Chakaria Pekua) seat, took possession of Chingrighe by firing blank shots. At that time, two motor boats worth Tk 15 lakh, five boats, 100 goats worth Tk 5 lakh, and 20 buffaloes worth Tk 10 lakh were looted. Besides, they looted 5 tong houses, 10 nets, and various kinds of goods in the shrimp enclosure.
Miftah Uddin Ahmed, the lawyer of the plaintiff and General Secretary of the Chakaria Upazila Advocate Association, said, “The Chakaria Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate Court has taken into consideration the petition filed by the victim Ali Haider as the plaintiff. After the hearing on Wednesday, the judge Prabal Chakraborty ordered the PBI of Cox’s Bazar to investigate the case.
