Monowar Babu, Ghoraghat (Dinajpur) Correspondent:
Locals have held a sit-in protest in Dinajpur's Ghoraghat demanding the protection of the Chowdhury Gopalpur CM Public Library and Club grounds from encroachers.
They protested at 12 noon on Friday (February 7) at the field in Chowdhury Gopalpur, Bilpara area of Palsha union of the upazila. In this, students and people from all walks of life, including the surrounding area, youth, children and adolescents, gathered at the field. Upon receiving the news, Upazila Executive Officer Rafiqul Islam and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ghoraghat Police Station Nazmul Haque visited the scene.
Locals say that this playground, which is about 1.49 acres in size, is old. About 10-12 thousand residents of our area use this playground for sports, funerals, and religious purposes. Therefore, we strongly demand from all concerned quarters to protect the playground.
A young man named Masum Reza said, "Since our school does not have a playground, we come to this field to play sports during school breaks. Our school's annual sports competitions and cultural programs are organized on this field. If there is no field, we will not have a place to play. We demand from the government that they do not take away this field from us."
Accused Amirul Islam said, "This is the land purchased by my father-in-law. We have all the necessary documents. Since my father-in-law has no son and I have been abroad for a long time, this land was vacant. Now the need has arisen, so I am throwing the soil."
UP member Shahidul Islam said, "Along with the youth, children and teenagers from our area play here. But some people in the village are trying to occupy some of the playground by claiming ownership. They are already trying to occupy it by dumping soil on one side of the field. Seeing them, the landowners around the field are also trying to occupy the field through various strategies."
In this regard, Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Rafiqul Islam said, there is no opportunity to occupy the playground. Those who are claiming a part of the field as theirs have been talked to. They have been asked to bring the necessary documents to the office. There is no opportunity to occupy the playground illegally.
Caption: Locals are removing the filled soil to take over.
Manowar Babu,
Ghoraghat, Dinajpur
