‘Where else do we go?’
Ten years ago, Rahima Akhter and her husband migrated to Chattogram from Noakhali and bought a plot in Chhinnomul Bazar of Jungle Salimpur from the Mashiur gang. They paid Tk 30,000 for the land and built a semi-pucca house.
However, their good fortune did not last forever. Fifty-year-old Rahima and her family have been passing anxious days as the authorities cut off their illegal electricity line and asked the area's residents to evict the government land.
Rahima is not alone in this. Thousands of others migrated to the area and settled down after being victims of river erosion and other climate-related issues years ago. They bought lands in Jungle Salimpur and adjacent areas at a cheaper rate from land grabbers, who are not taking any responsibility now that the government is adamant to take back the Khas land.
"We have nowhere else to go. We spent our savings to buy the plots. Now the authorities are saying we live on illegal land. No one is willing to take any responsibility in the matter," a devastated Rahima told this correspondent recently.
Chhinnomul inhabitants alleged that they lodged a petition with the High Court on behalf of Chattogram Mohanagar Chhinanomul Bostibasi Somonnay Sangram Parishad in 2017. The court directed against the eviction of the residents before ensuring their rehabilitation. However, the administration has not considered the court orders and is now planning to evict them.
The dwellers also alleged that they are deprived the basic citizenship facilities. The union or upazila offices do not provide any citizenship rights to them. However, the authorities have claimed that though the area is under Sitakunda upazila, the dwellers of these settlements made a private road illegally from Bangla Bazar of Bayezid Link Road on the Central Gas distribution line. Their electricity lines are also illegal.
Sitakunda UNO Shahadat Hossen said, "The authorities blocked the illegal street, the main entrance to Jungle Salimpur at Bayezid Link Road as the street was built illegally on central gas distribution line of Karnaphuli."
"Members of the Rohingya community were also found here. They have no relevant documents to prove their citizenship. At times, we provide some facilities to them if they can show us verified documents proving their citizenship," said Sitakunda Upazila Chairman SM Al Mamun.
DC Mominur Rashid assured that residents will be rehabilitated gradually.
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