Jumbangla Desk: Panishail is a remote tea-garden village of Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar. Passing the rural path of that village, you will see a house enclosed in four walls. Advocate Abdur Raqib Montu, executive member of Central Jubo League, built seven houses without windows there. He was the former Assistant Attorney General and General Secretary of Bangladesh Athletics Federation.
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It has been alleged that Montu has taken over the land of his uncle, who has been in jail for a long time in a murder case committed by him, and built a 'torture cell' there. Seven such houses of about 7 feet length and 8 feet width without windows were found in Panishail (Nizgaon) area of Uttarbhag Union of Rajnagar Upazila. Locals claim that before the fall of the Awami League government, Montu used to bring people in a black car late at night. He used to leave early in the night.
It is known on the surface that Abdur Rakib, a resident of Nizampur village of Fenchuganj upazila of Sylhet, has developed a garden of different species of forest trees in the property occupied by himself and others in Panishail village of Montu Rajnagar. There is 2 acres and 7 percent of their own land, but 2 acres and 47 percent are occupying the land of others.
During his tenure as Assistant Attorney General, he gave one case after another to his uncle Nurul Islam Kala Mia (83) and his family members to take away all the adjacent land including the homestead. He couldn't take it because he didn't get the court's instructions. On the night of November 17, 2021, miscreants killed Abdul Malek, caretaker of Montu's property, near Nijgaon Community Clinic. That night the police took Kala Mia and all her family members from the residence.
Montu filed a murder case against the family at Rajnagar police station. Rajshahi University student Azizur Rahman, grandson of Kala Mia, was also arrested in this case. Montu took possession of all the land including Kala Mia's house while all of Kala Mia's family were in prison. Built the boundary wall.
He named the house 'Bashir-Rabeya Cottage'. Inside that boundary wall, he built seven separate half-baked tin houses. There are no windows in these mysterious rooms. Locals said that they have never seen these houses open during the day. Montu used to come here late at night in a black car with people and leave in the early morning.
Many people, including Nannu Mia of Panishail village, said that while Kala Mia and her family members were in jail in connection with a murder, Montu Mia occupied her house and land and built seven small houses. We think Awami League's torture cell was used like a 'mirror'. These houses need to be demolished to see what they were doing here.
After nearly two and a half years, after being released on bail from the murder case in June this year, Kala Mia and her family members saw that Montu had taken over 40 percent of the land including the residential house. Large trees have been cut down. Gardens and houses have been built on the land.
Manik Mia of that village said that Montu is harassing the family with false cases. Even if Kala Mia has committed murder, her land and house cannot be confiscated.
Kala Mia said, I have been living in this house for 70 years. My sister and her sons have deeded these lands to me. Montu has repeatedly harassed me with false cases to take away this land. Later, finding no other option, he himself killed his caretaker and filed a murder case against my entire family. I spent almost two and a half years in jail. My marriageable college going daughter was not left out of the case either.
The university student did not leave the grandson. Now I am on bail and cannot enter my house. Being harassed by the police. Kala Mia's grandson Azizur Rahman said, I used to study in Rajshahi University. University canceled my studentship due to absence due to long jail time in Montur case. My younger aunt was studying in HSC, she was also taken to jail. One of my uncles who is abroad has also been accused. The whole family was destroyed by Montu. The 83-year-old man has been staying in rent for three months. Now with the help of the villagers we have reached the house. But the police are forbidding Nana to enter the house.
It is known that after the fall of the Awami League government, Montu gave cover. Several attempts to contact his mobile phone were switched off.
Officer-in-Charge of Rajnagar police station (OC) Shah Md. Mubaswir said, from our side, the old man's family will not be prevented from staying at home. Two cases are ongoing in court between the two parties regarding the land. One complained about entering the old man's room. We have said that we cannot do anything without the direction of the court in this regard. When asked about the torture cell, he said, I have heard about it. We will investigate this matter in depth.
