The New Nation - Internet Edition

Habibullah Mizan

Hundreds of people of Savar area have become pauper being cheated by an influential thug and his musclemen.

The middle-aged 'overnight' millionaire has cheated hundreds of thousands of people by selling the same piece of land over and over again to several people in and around Savar area.

Local people alleged, one Syedul Islam alias Syed, son of late Yakub Ali Mokter of Tarapur area under Ward No 6 of Savar Paurashava has not only cheated hundreds of people, but also the government by selling government land by forging documents. Thus he has become a millionaire overnight.

Victims have sought the intervention of the Chief Adviser, Home Adviser, Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Rapid Action Battalion and the District Commissioner and Superintendent of police of Dhaka for bringing the culprit to book.

Although the victims have lost their lives savings for the sake of owning a small plot of land at Savar, Syed is leading a life of luxury. He often changed his private car model with a brand new ultra modern sedan. He even bought a latest model private car for his daughter only to carry her to and from a highly expensive college in the city, it was learnt.

Investigation revealed many pathetic stories of cheating. One of his victim, from the minority community, has become 'mentally deranged' due to Syed's broad daylight cheating.

The innocent victim bought a piece of land situated near the Government Rest House in Savar from Syed some years ago, but later found that the land belonged to the government. The land had since been reoccupied and a boundary wall erected by the government.

''The cheater, Syed, claimed that it was his own land and proposed to sell to me. He also showed to me some documents in favour of his ownership of the land. I believed him and paid the value of the prime land in cash. Syed also illegally registered the land in my name," he said.

But later it was proved that the documents were fake and selling of the government land illegal. Several times I requested him to return the money but he did not return a single penny, moreover, he threatened me in different ways, the victim alleged.

In another of his cheating, Syed sold a big plot of land to Md Wajed Ali Khan and Imran Ali Khan alias Sentu of Kazi Mokma Para of Savar many years ago at a high rate. But documents showed that the land had already been sold by Syed's father late Yakub Ali Mokter to one Mosharaf Hossain. Later, he sold the same land to Sarker MA Mannan and his wife Mamtaz Shirin. Thus, the registration of the land made by the land grabber Syedul Islam Khan alias Syed to Md Wajed Ali Khan and Imran Ali Khan turned out to be illegal. But he did not return the money to the victims.

He mainly selects his victims from among the family members of expatriate Bangladeshis, as they have huge cash money, one of his close associates disclosed on condition of anonymity.

He said local police and others in the administration, including local elected representatives, are his hostages, as he always misuses the 'influence' of his relatives, who are reportedly high ranking government officials.

Confessing the allegations against him, Syed claimed that he had returned the disputed lands to the original owners. He however, could not show any documents.