Pabna Jan 23, (V7N) - This is Shahin Rahman reporting for Voice7News from Pabna, where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Paschim Jamua village. An influential local group has allegedly demolished sixty homes built under the government’s Ashrayan Project, leaving many landless families destitute and desperate.

The homes, intended to shelter vulnerable families, were reduced to rubble in what appears to be a land-grabbing incident, with victims claiming they were evicted at gunpoint. Eyewitnesses reported that the gang looted everything from doors to tin roofs, leaving the area in ruins. The perpetrators, allegedly backed by local Jamaat-BNP members, have claimed ownership of the land and even erected a signboard asserting their rights.

The land dispute reportedly dates back to 2010, with the accused asserting that the shelter project was built on their land despite an ongoing court case. Speaking to Voice7News, one of the alleged landowners, Nayeb Ali, stated, "This is our land. The previous government forcibly took it from us. We are being wrongly blamed for the destruction." Meanwhile, the administration has remained largely unresponsive.

Pabna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mofizul Islam admitted he only recently learned about the incident and has ordered an investigation, but no tangible steps have been taken to rehabilitate the displaced families. The displaced families are now living in makeshift shelters on nearby embankments, enduring unimaginable hardship.

Fulmala Begum, a mother who lost her home, tearfully recounted, "They gave us one hour to leave. I couldn’t even finish cooking. Now, my son and I live under a tin roof with no water or toilets." Another victim, Fatema Khatun, shared her distress, stating, "They came with threats and vandalized our home. I could only grab a goat and a piece of clothing. That’s all I have left." Local leaders are demanding immediate rehabilitation and accountability. Union Parishad Chairman Sultan Mahmud Khan emphasized the urgent need for action, stating, "These families have been stripped of everything. They need shelter, water, and sanitation. The government must act now." The Ashrayan Project, which aimed to provide hope to the landless, now stands as a symbol of despair and neglect

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