DHAKA: Lawmaker and former cricketer Naimur Rahman Durjoy has allegedly amassed a huge amount of illegal wealth in the name of his wife Farhana Rahman Happy through grabbing land in Manikganj.

Durjoy, an MP from Manikganj-1 constituency, has faced allegations of running the illegal land grabbing by his uncle and Manikganj district Awami League organising secretary Taibur Rahman Tipu.

The issue of the land grabbing is now open secret to all in Manikganj district. If anyone wants to sell land in the district, he or she has to give a ‘share’ to the MP.

It is not possible to sell land, if anyone denies giving the share. If the people want to make any problem over sale of land, the land goes to the possession of MP Durjoy.

Local administration sources said no person or commercial organisation from outside the district comes to buy land in the area due to fear of grabbing as selling and buying land are very low in the district.

Grabbing of the government lands and river-erosion resources, markets or other khas lands of government agencies like Bangladesh Shipping Authority (BIWTA) and roads and highways is a daily matter for the people of MP Durjoy, locals alleged.

Durjoy has grabbed over 100 acres of khas land in Daulatpur area alone in the last five to six years since he was elected MP, sources at land offices said.

There have also been incidents of filling the canals and drains of the Upazila Sadar and selling the lands as position. A big market was set up in Daulatpur Bazar grabbing and filling the government drains violating the district administration ban. Durjoy’s uncle Tipu also allotted position of shop by taking Tk 5-6 lakh per shop.

Tipu's forces also have occupied BIWTA land worth several crores of money in Aricha and Paturia Ghat areas where position allocation for more than a hundred shops is now underway.

The land adjacent to Jafarganj river port, which was lost in the Jamuna River a few years ago, has been owned by the MP’s uncle without valid documents. It has been alleged that the land of the river is being sold by giving writing on the stamp.

Besides, allegations have been made against Durjoy’s wife Farhana Rahman Happy over involvement in land grabbing in the district.

Locals said many lands in the Tara-Muljan industrial area have been grabbed in the name of Happy while many expensive lands of Roads and Highways adjacent to the Dhaka-Aricha highway have been grabbed in her name.

Besides, there is a plan to build a shopping mall in the name of Durjoy’s wife on this land in Muljan area.  As she is the wife of a local MP, the Roads and Highways Department is very much disappointed about the land recovery.

At least five acres of land have been occupied at least four points on the six-kilometer highway from Tara Cross bridge to Manikganj Sadar bus stand. Those lands are bordered by barbed wire fences.

There are also allegations against Happy that she sold soil from agricultural land. Soil is being sold by occupying at least three spots of cropland behind the mega feed factory on the Dhaka-Aricha highway.

It is alleged that Durjoy owned a huge amount of wealth in the name of his wife. After being elected an MP for the first time, the average income of the MP increases almost eight times every year.

Apart from this, he has also kept illegal wealth in the name of his wife, uncle and other family members. However, in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, Durjoy could not show any proper source of income of his wife.

There are allegations that Durjoy and his wife laundered money in Malaysia for building a ‘second home’ there.

When asked about these allegations, Durjoy’s uncle Tipu denied the allegation. He claimed that he had only ‘settled’ disputes between party workers over land in Aricha and Paturia areas.

MP Durjoy told the media that the National Board of Revenue would look into his wealth. On the other hand, if someone does wrong by using his name, he wants to know their name. He also said he will take action if founds any complaint.

MP Durjoy said the source of income will be seen by the NBR. The NBR sees the source of income, where did the income go?

When asked about the ‘second home’ in Malaysia, he wants to know about the source of the complaint.

BDST: 2358 HRS, JUN 24, 2020
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