Jubo Dal activist faces land grabbing, extortion charges

The Talukdar family of Musapur Union in Sandwip Upazila, Chattogram, has called for a neutral investigation and immediate administrative intervention against a self-identified Jubo Dal activist, Zakaria Taslim, accusing him of attempting to forcefully construct a road through their ancestral homestead alongside extortion, assault, and threats.

Master Zafrul Haq Talukdar presented a written statement on behalf of his family during a press conference held at a restaurant in Chattogram city on Wednesday (October 28).

In his written statement, Zafrul Haq stated that his family has been peacefully inheriting and possessing their ancestral property in Musapur Union for generations. However, over the past two years, neighbor Zakaria Taslim has allegedly been attempting to construct a road directly through their homestead. When family members protested, Taslim reportedly harassed family member Gias Uddin Talukdar, filed false criminal cases, and led armed attacks on their residence.

Zafrul Haq clarified that no public thoroughfare previously existed on their property, noting that Solaiman Road borders the western side and another access road runs along the northern boundary. Despite reporting the matter to local BNP leaders and upazila police authorities, the family has yet to receive adequate protection or redress.

The press conference also highlighted various other allegations against Taslim and his associates, including the looting of fish worth Tk 7-8 lakh from a trader near Banglabazar and Gachtali, which was later resolved through a financial fine mediated by Upazila BNP Member Secretary Alamgir Thakur and Jubo Dal Convener Nijhum Khan.

Furthermore, Taslim and his followers were blamed for a violent assault on local trader Sahab Uddin in the Kerani Market area on October 21, leaving the victim severely injured and currently undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Additional allegations against the accused include assaulting fishmongers, extortion at Dhoparhat market, physically assaulting a local yogurt vendor and a barber, obstructing meat seller Soleman's business, an armed attack on the residence of Kazi Ansari, and illegally occupying land in Ward 9 of Musapur.

Addressing the media, Master Zafrul Haq stated that exploiting political affiliations under the BNP banner to terrorize locals and grab land severely tarnishes the party's image, urging local senior BNP leadership to take organizational action. He emphasized that his family seeks a neutral probe, legal protection, and justice to safeguard their ancestral property.

Responding to the allegations, Zakaria Taslim denied the land-grabbing charges, claiming that the road in question was constructed on government-owned Khas land adjacent to a canal solely for public movement without encroaching on private property.

Talukdar family members Saiful Mulk Shipon, Alamgir Talukdar, Muhammad Shoaib Uddin Haider, Md Saimun, Advocate Arafat Hasan, Imtiaz Uddin, Rashedul Mulk, Alamgir Haq Talukdar, and Advocate Helal Mujib were present at the press conference.

-EM