Court Injunction Defied in Dhunat: Bamboo Fence Blocks Four Businesses, Trading Brought to a Halt

In Bogura's Dhunat, a bamboo fence has allegedly been erected in front of four businesses in defiance of a court injunction, with trees planted to block the access path. Traders say buying and selling at the establishments has stopped as a result.

The victims allege that the defendants in the case carried out the act on Friday (Oct. 23) at noon, taking advantage of the businesses being closed during Jumma prayers. Panic has since spread among the shop owners and traders.

According to case documents and local sources, about 40 years ago Rustam Ali Mondal, a resident of Nalodanga village in Elangi union of Dhunat upazila, bought 77 decimals of land in plot No. 501 of Dhunat mouza from five men of Pakurihata village — Motraj, Kaincha, Jalil, Karim and Azizara.

Since then, his son Hasan Ali has built semi-pucca structures on the land, setting up various businesses and homes and remaining in possession. In other words, the case documents claim the land has been in the plaintiff side's possession for decades.

According to the complaint, about two months ago members of the sellers' families raised objections over the map and the quantity of land and tried to forcibly occupy the businesses. Tensions between the two sides have been running since then.

Hasan Ali filed a case with the Bogura Additional District Magistrate's Court, naming 10 defendants including sellers' family members Rafiqul Islam and Badsha Mia. After a hearing, the court imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 against the defendants and directed the local police to take necessary measures.

The plaintiff side says police informed the defendants of the injunction and told them not to go to the spot. Even so, the bamboo fence was put up and trees planted at noon today, blocking the passage, and buying and selling at the four establishments has stopped.

Traders say that with the fence across the front of the shops, customers simply have no way in or out. The establishments may be open, but in practice no trade is happening, and they are counting losses every day.

On receiving the news, Dhunat police visited the scene. The victims, however, allege that no effective action has been taken so far.

Dhunat police station's officer-in-charge Atikul Islam said police visited the scene after receiving news that a fence had been put up in defiance of the injunction. 'The matter will be reported to the court. Further action will be taken in line with the court's directions,' he said.

The victims have questioned the rule of law after access was blocked in this way while a court injunction was in force. The Dhunat traders are now looking to the court — for its next direction, and for when the fence will come down and business can return to normal.