Islamists grab the land of a Hindu family [Barishal, Bangladesh]

(Reported as seen)

In a distressing development from Barishal district in Bangladesh, a Hindu family has become the latest victim of land grabbing by Islamists, highlighting the ongoing persecution of Hindu minorities in the Muslim-majority nation. The incident, which took place in Bakerganj Upazila, involves the forceful acquisition of land owned by Titu Saha and his family by individuals identified as Lutfar Khan and Mahmud Khan.

According to reports, a large group of Islamists descended upon the Saha family’s property, threatened them, and forcibly took over their land. The aggressors did not stop at verbal threats; they proceeded to cut down trees and construct a boundary wall around the seized land, effectively asserting their control.

The Saha family, in response to the intimidation and illegal occupation of their ancestral land, lodged a formal complaint with the local police. Titu Saha, expressing his distress, stated, “By threatening us, the Islamists grabbed our ancestral land on the 18th of February. They made false documents and are now carrying out construction on our land.” His wife took the initiative to file the complaint at the Bakerganj Police Station, hoping for swift justice and the restoration of their property rights.

The local law enforcement, under the leadership of Afzal Hossain, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Bakerganj Police Station, has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. “We have received the written complaint and have already initiated an investigation into the matter,” OC Hossain remarked. In a reassuring move, police personnel were dispatched to the disputed site, where they halted the ongoing construction work, signaling the start of a legal process to address the grievance of the Saha family.

This incident sheds light on the broader issue of religious minority persecution in Bangladesh, where land grabbing, intimidation, and violence against Hindus continue to be reported. It underscores the need for more effective measures to protect the rights and properties of minority communities in the country, ensuring they live without fear of discrimination or aggression. The resolution of the Saha family’s case will be closely watched as a test of the Bangladeshi authorities’ commitment to upholding justice and equality for all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations.