Dhaka-11 to be freed from land-grabbing syndicates: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and 11-party alliance nominated candidate for Dhaka-11 Nahid Islam on Sunday said land grabbing is the sole reason behind the prolonged underdevelopment of the Dhaka-11 constituency.

“Development in Dhaka-11 has been obstructed entirely due to land grabbing. Hundreds of people have been dispossessed of their land. For the past 30 years, local leaders of some political parties were involved in grabbing land through syndicates,” he said.

Nahid said while addressing an election rally at the DIT Project playground in Merul Badda.

The rally was organised in support of his candidacy for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman attended the rally as the chief guest, while Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque was present as special guest.

Nahid said hundreds of private lands, government khas lands and common water bodies in the area were illegally occupied and filled, leaving many families destitute.

“Those who were active in politics either directly carried out land grabbing or assisted the grabbers. The political history of the last three decades here is essentially a history of land, river and property grabbing,” he added.

Referring to political changes after 5 August 2024, Nahid alleged that only individuals were replaced while the system of extortion and illegal occupation remained intact.

Nahid pledged that if elected, the land-grabbing syndicates in Dhaka-11 would be eliminated permanently.

He said 12 February would give people an opportunity to defeat land grabbers, extortionists, terrorists and loan defaulters through ballots.

Introducing himself as a son of the area, Nahid said he was born in Beraid and grew up in Badda-Rampura.

Despite being close to the capital, residents of Badda-Bhatara have long suffered neglect and deprivation, he said, adding that some parts of the area resemble rural localities rather than the capital city.

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He noted that Badda and Rampura became key centres of resistance during the July uprising, where many people sacrificed their lives and were injured.

He also recalled that during the Liberation War of 1971, freedom fighters used Badda, Beraid and surrounding areas as operational zones.

Nahid said Dhaka-11 sheltered him during the July uprising and throughout 28 years of his life, and now he wants to repay his debt to the people of the constituency.

Highlighting civic challenges, he said around 1.5 million people live in Dhaka-11, though the number of voters stands at about 450,000, yet the area lacks adequate civic amenities.

“There are insufficient playgrounds, schools, employment opportunities and no government hospital or government high school,” he said.

Citing statistics, he said nearly 70% of the residents of Badda-Vatara are engaged in the informal economy, including small businesses and daily labour, while the rate of educated unemployment stands between 8%-10%.

He added that the health sector in the constituency is almost entirely dependent on private facilities as there is no government hospital.

“There are only 15 government primary schools and not a single government high school in the entire constituency, making both education and healthcare fully dependent on the private sector,” he said.

Nahid promised to reduce economic disparity, ensure civic facilities and recover or compensate lands lost due to illegal occupation if elected.

He also urged voters to unite and ensure victory for all candidates of the 11-party electoral alliance, calling it an alliance capable of forming the government.

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