Yet another case filed against Dr Zafrullah

A case has been filed against Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury for allegedly grabbing a piece of land in Savar's Ashulia.

With this, a total of four cases, filed on charges of either land grabbing or attempted land grabbing and demanding extortion, have been filed against him with Ashulia Police Station since October 15.

The cases come within around two weeks after a general diary was filed against him with Cantonment Police Station in Dhaka, over recent remarks on the Army chief at a TV programme, that were termed “motivated, malicious and conspiratorial” and the act as tantamount to sedition.

On Tuesday night, Nasir Uddin, a resident of Ashulia's Nolam area, filed the case against Dr Zafrullah and three named and 40 to 50 unnamed persons.

In the case statement, the complainant said he and his brother own a 16-decimal land in Basbari Mouja. On October 3, three accused -- Delwar Hossain, Saiful Islam Shishir and Golum Mortoza Babu -- along with 40 to 50 unnamed people entered the property and grabbed around 13.25-decimal land as per directive of Dr Zafrullah.

The accused also gave death threats to the complainant when he went there after hearing about the land-grabbing incident.

They also felled trees worth Tk 50,000, vandalised structures and looted valuables worth Tk 1.25 lakh. Later, the accused as per Dr Zafrullah's directives build a concrete gate on the land, said the complainant.

Contacted, complainant Nasir Uddin said he did not file the case earlier due to some problems. He did not elaborate any further. He also did not say from whom he bought the land or when.

This correspondent visited the land yesterday afternoon. He did see a gate there, but it looked quite old. The paint colour looked faded and worn.

Javed Masud, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Ashulia Police Station, said they recorded the case based on complainant's statement and primary inquiry. They are investigating the case, he said.

The three other cases were filed on October 15, 19 and 21.

When asked, Dr Zafrullah said, “All the lands are owned by Gonoshasthaya Kendra. The complainants' claims are false.”