Mashiur Rahman Selim, Cumilla South

A village arbitration committee in Ichhapura village under Govindapur Union of Laksam Upazila has publicly ostracised four families using a loudspeaker announcement over a land dispute, triggering widespread outrage across the region.

The affected families, comprising men, women, teenagers, children, and expatriates, have been confined to their homes under intense fear and severe living conditions since the announcement on Monday evening (August 10).

According to complaint sources, a long-standing land dispute existed between Momin Ali, son of the late Abdur Rahman, and Alamgir Hossain, son of the late Abdul Rashid, both residents of Ichhapura village. Despite multiple local arbitrations (gramya shalish), the matter remained unresolved. Arbitrators had scheduled a full arbitration meeting for August 20.

However, following alleged harassment by Alamgir's group, Momin Ali filed three consecutive cases against the rivals in the District Magistrate Court. Incensed by the court filings and alleging disobedience toward social arbitrators, members of the local village committee announced the social boycott of four families on Monday evening via a loudspeaker.

A video of the announcement went viral on Facebook, sparking intense public backlash.

Under the committee's directive, the ostracised residents include the families of Momin Ali, Abul Khair Abu, Abdul Rashid, and expatriate Korban Ali—all descendants of the late Haji Abdur Rahman of Ichhapura Uttarpara. The announcement urged villagers not to engage in trade, financial transactions, or social interaction with members of these four families, nor to allow them into local shops.

"Since the loudspeaker announcement, local shopkeepers refuse to sell us anything," said Momin Ali. "Even when young children go to the shops, they are not allowed to buy food. We are receiving continuous threats. After we informed the police, a team visited our home on Tuesday morning and recorded the details. Alamgir has no valid land claim on our homestead."

Responding to the allegations, Alamgir Hossain acknowledged the land dispute but denied responsibility for the boycott announcement, claiming it was issued by leaders of the Ichhapura East and West neighbourhood committees.

Monir Hossain, a local village elder who attended previous arbitration sessions, noted that while a meeting was set for August 20, Momin Ali's decision to file court cases instead offended the local committee, leading to the public boycott announcement.

Laksam Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kazi Kamrun Nahar Lyly confirmed the incident, stating, "We observed the video on Facebook showing the social boycott announcement following the court filing. A police team visited the spot on Tuesday morning to verify the situation, and both parties have been summoned to the police station on Wednesday."

Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants reportedly attacked the residence of Momin Ali on Tuesday night. Preparations to file a formal police case regarding the attack were underway as of repCumilla South