Legal Battle Over Shelter Land Leaves 70 Families in Limbo: A Closer Look
In the heart of Lalmonirhat, amid eight long months of rain and cold, families find themselves in dire straits. The ancient shelters in Madanpur village of Palash union have been demolished to make way for new homes, as per a government directive dating back to 2003-2004. The land was initially developed for 70 landless and homeless families by the 6 Signal Battalion of the army, only to be handed over to the beneficiaries later. Since then, these families have been settling in, facing a complex legal battle that has deeply impacted their daily lives.
The initial promise of new homes quickly turned into a nightmare when the tin sheds and everything inside were destroyed, leaving the makeshift shelters practically uninhabitable. Despite the need for renovations, neither the government nor the beneficiaries took steps to improve the living conditions. Instead, a new project to provide housing under the Ashrayan Project on the same land where the shelters once stood was initiated, leaving the landless families displaced once again.
The situation took a turn for the worse as the displaced families resorted to living in temporary shelters made of bamboo and polythene sheets near other people’s homes, on the side of the road, amidst bamboo groves, or by the pond. The promise of new homes within two to three months turned into a distant dream, leaving the families struggling to find a place to call home. As the winter chill sets in, the harsh reality of their displacement becomes more apparent, with the temporary shelters providing little respite from the elements.
One of the affected residents, Beowa (90), shared her ordeal of living in a tin shed before being forced to move to a polythene-covered shelter. With no indication of when the new homes will be ready, the uncertainty of their future weighs heavily on the displaced families. Arjina Begum recounted how her home was demolished in June, with the hope of a new house fading with each passing month. Mofazzal Mistry, another resident, highlighted the financial strain of paying rent for the temporary shelter on a neighboring plot of land, calling for a swift resolution to the ongoing legal battle.
Alawal Islam Fatemi Pavel, the chairman of the Palash Union Parishad, expressed concern over the plight of the 70 families and emphasized the need for a speedy resolution to their housing crisis. With no available land in the area for relocation, the families have been forced to resort to various means of survival, living on others’ property. The local administration has escalated the matter to the higher courts in hopes of a swift resolution and the commencement of the construction of new homes for the displaced families.
Nurul Alam Siddique, the UNO and chairman of the Implementation Committee for the Ashrayan Project in the upazila, shed light on the deteriorating condition of the old shelters, prompting the initiation of the new housing project for the affected families. Despite facing legal hurdles, the committee remains optimistic about a favorable resolution in the coming days. The hope is that with the rightful documentation in place, the legal battle will soon come to an end, paving the way for the construction of new homes for the displaced families.
As the clock ticks, and January 26, 2025 approaches, the fate of these 70 families hangs in the balance. With the winter chill intensifying and the uncertainty of their future looming large, the need for a swift and just resolution to their housing crisis becomes more pressing. The local community, along with the government authorities, eagerly await a favorable decision from the higher courts, hoping to bring an end to the prolonged legal battle and provide a sense of security and stability to the displaced families.
By AR, for Bangladesh Times.
