n Shreepur Kumaria village of Shreepur Union (Ward 10) in Jamalpur Sadar Upazila, seven minority families from the Rabidas (cobbler) community held a press conference on Sunday, demanding the return of their land allegedly seized by a local influential Awami League leader and his relatives.
The press conference was held on the disputed land itself. Speaking on behalf of the affected families, Fulchan Rabidas stated that former Shreepur Union Awami League adviser Md Shahjahan, along with his niece and former joint general secretary Jakirul Islam Rana Sarkar, forcibly occupied 2 acres and 19 decimals of their ancestral land.
Although the total land owned by the families is 2 acres 79 decimals, they currently have access to only 60 decimals. Fulchan added that when they tried to install electricity to their homes, Shahjahan used his political influence to remove utility poles installed by the rural electrification board. As a result, these families have lived in darkness for years, with children studying by kerosene lamps. Locals and freedom fighters confirmed the families’ long-term residence and farming on the land. The Rabidas families have called on the administration to intervene and ensure justice.
