Desk Report
The three-member family of Ramoni Chandra Sikder is the only Hindu family that is still living in Dalbuganj union under Kalapara upazila.
The last two Hindu families in the union were driven away about five years ago while Ramoni’s family is facing the same threat nowadays.
Fifty-year-old Ramoni, who has a small hut and a pond on his 2.66 acres of land, lives at Monoshatali village under the union along with his wife Aruni Bala and only son Sanjoy Sikder.
In the beginning of 2016, Ramoni leased his pond for a year to one of his neighbours Zakir Hossain for Tk 8,000.
But, since completion of his one year contract about a year ago Zakir does not want to leave possession of the pond, Ramoni said, adding that Zakir filed a false case against him with Mohipur Police Station for ‘stealing fish’ from the pond. Not only that, two months ago someone cut down a dead tree on a Water Development Board’s (WDB) embankment but surprisingly Ramoni was made accused in the case filed with the same police station, he alleged.
On September 29, Ramoni, a betel leaf trader, went to Kalapara Press Club and expressed his fear to the local journalists.
“I am passing days in fear and feeling unsafe as well,” Ramoni said, adding that he goes to Mohipur Bazar to run his shop daily and returns home late at night.
When he is late sometimes, his wife takes shelter at one of their neighbour’s house fearing lack of safety at home as their only son stays in Barishal town for study purpose, he said.
“Steps have been taken to oust me from my ancestral land. Five years back two more Hindu families were driven away from their land in the same way,” Ramoni alleged.
Ramoni’s neighbours Yousuf Ali and Yakub Talukder said some local influential people are harassing Ramoni in a bid to oust him from his land.
Dalbuganj Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Abdus Salam Sikder said the allegation Ramoni brought is true and the authorities concerned should take steps to ensure his safety.
Zakir said the allegation brought against him was false and Ramoni has no pond except his house on 17 decimals of land.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Kalapara Circle) Mohammad Jalal Uddin said they will take steps to ensure safety for Ramoni and his family.