Faridpur Correspondent

An 82-year-old man from Faridpur has alleged that Sulaiman Islam, a central leader of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, is forcing him to sign over his land, threatening that he will not even be allowed a burial if he fails to comply.

The victim, Altaf Hossain, a resident of Nikhurdi village in Gerda Union under Faridpur Sadar Upazila, voiced his ordeal alongside his family during a press conference held at the Faridpur Press Club at 1:00 pm on Thursday. 

According to the family, Sulaiman Islam serves as the central Assistant Office Secretary of Krishak Dal and is their immediate neighbor. Altaf Hossain alleged that Sulaiman has been attempting to illegally grab nearly 59 decimals of land across five plots, unleashing severe harassment, threats, and false litigation—especially intensifying since August 5, 2024.

Reading out a written statement at the press conference, Altaf Hossain said, "Despite having valid purchase documents for my land, Sulaiman has been oppressing us for the last 15 years. Since obtaining a central post in Krishak Dal, he has become even more reckless. Using his political clout, he has been orchestrating attacks, filing false cases, tearing down boundary walls, and slowly destroying my family."

Altaf Hossain further alleged that Sulaiman is lobbying high authorities to get his younger son, Yusuf Hossain Noor—currently serving as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Bangladesh Police in Magura—dismissed from service.

"In 2023, my son filed a case against Sulaiman under the Land Crime Prevention Act. Out of vengeance, a false murder case related to the July uprising was lodged against him. Wherever my son is posted, Sulaiman uses local BNP leaders to press complaints before the Superintendent of Police. Ironically, I am a long-time BNP worker myself, and my son got his police job through the late BNP Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf," Altaf added.

The family presented an audio recording at the press conference, alleging that when Sub-Inspector Samir of Kotwali Police Station went to arrest Sulaiman on July 8 following a court warrant in the land case, Sulaiman abused the police officer and threatened him with dismissal.

Breaking down in tears, the elderly man appealed directly to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman for intervention and safety: "Sulaiman lives barely 10 feet from my house. He enters my home late at night and demands signatures on blank papers, threatening that if I don't give up the land, he won't let my body be buried after I die. I appeal to leader Tarique Rahman—at this age, I just want to live peacefully on my legitimate land. Please save my family from Sulaiman's tyranny and protect my son's job."

When contacted, Krishak Dal leader Sulaiman Islam denied all allegations, labeling them fabricated.

"The land in question belongs to my father according to legal deeds. After my father's death, Altaf Hossain evicted us when we were children and grabbed the land. The dispute started when I sought to reclaim my father's legitimate property. A local arbitration was held at the residence of Shahidul Islam Babul (General Secretary of Krishak Dal and MP for Faridpur-4), where Altaf signed an agreement, but after returning home, he refused to hand over the land. I never demanded signatures on blank papers. A partition suit is currently pending in court, and the matter rests with the judiciary," Sulaiman claimed.