Bangladeshi Hindu writer and actress Dipanwita Roy’s parent’s property has been encroached and they have been threatened with eviction from Bangladesh by two land grabbers – Harun Mollah & Humayun Mollah, sons of notorious Razakar (paramilitary force organised by General Tikka Khan in then East Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971) Kheyal Uddin Mollah.

Police has reportedly failed to take any action after the family approached them. A harassed Dipanwita Roy then took to Facebook on December 4 to share her pain with netizens. Here is an edited translation of her Bengali language Facebook post (archived here):

I never thought my elderly parents would be victims of minority (Hindu) torture by known Razakars & land robbers! I have seen many media reports of minority Hindus being tortured by (pro-Pakistan) Razakars. But I never imagined the same torture would ever be experienced by my own family.

My mother is a teacher of Ramdia Girls High School in Kashiani upazila (sub-district) under Gopalganj district (of central Bangladesh), my father is a retired school headmaster, and my elderly ailing paternal aunties live together in our village home at Ramdia.

Harun Mollah & Humayun Mollah, 2 sons of Kheyal Uddin Mollah, a notorious razakar of the area, offered to buy the land next to our house 20-22 years ago at a nominal price. Although we did not want to sell the land, we were forced to sell because of their pressure. They paid that nominal amount to us gradually over 20 years. The current value of the land is about 20 times higher (than what the Hindu family was forced to sell). After completing that payment, they transferred 26 decimal of the land in their name – as confirmed by a surveyor.

However, after 8-10 years of completing that transfer, they kept saying that they did not get their ‘deserved land’. So, the land was measured once again by surveyors of both parties. They (the Mollahs) also accepted by saying ‘Alhamdulillah’.

Yet, for the last 6-7 months, they have again started demanding more land, and are now harassing my parents in various ways. It is a very difficult task to bring together all the authorities of the area to re-measure the land.

After many efforts, on November 5, we got hold of the chairman of the Union council, concerned authorities, surveyors of both sides, people of both sides, local leaders of ruling Awami League party, and officers of the local police outpost. The land was measured in the presence of more than a hundred people. It was found that they (Mollahs) were occupying 3 decimal more land than their rightful share.

The two land-shark brothers (even) apologized to my parents, yet demanded the 3 decimal excess land which they were occupying from my father. My father is known as a very innocent gentleman in the area. He was selected as the best teacher of Gopalganj District in 1992. However, he had to give away that 3 decimal of land to the Mollah brothers on the request of the Union Council chairman.

After 10-15 days, Harun and Humayun Mollah tried to occupy our main house. They threatened my parents, saying they are Hindu Malaun (Malaun is a pejorative term for Bengali Hindus, most commonly used in Bangladesh. The word is derived from the Arabic “ملعون”, meaning “accursed” or “deprived of God’s Mercy”, and in modern times, it is used as an ethnic slur by the Muslims in Bengal region for Hindus), this country is not yours, go to India. They threatened us that they would kill us if we don’t escape the country in the dark of the night. It should be noted that they have been greedy for our house for a long time. Not only us, they are a fear and terror to many people in the area.

Yesterday, Harun Mollah tried to take over our house by implanting a pillar. My elderly father did not get a proper response when he went to the local police outpost for help. Tonight, Harun Mollah heaped a sand mound on the ground in front of our house and cut numerous trees planted in our courtyard.

If I remain silent anymore, my parents will be attacked. Harun Mollah has threatened to raid our house tomorrow morning. He said that he would kill us if we try to stop him.

I am drawing the attention of print and electronic media of the country. I humbly request you to take action before my parents suffer the ultimate loss.

Humbly,

Dipanwita Roy, 

Writer and actress.