A farmer in Sonardair village of Jhenaidah Sadar has alleged that 150 of his malta and guava trees, laden with fruit, were cut down in broad daylight.

The trees were cut on Tuesday afternoon (8 July) in the orchard of farmer Bipul Hossain (38) in the fields of Sonardair village. The farmer alleges that an army member named Md Abu Hanif cut them down. Bipul Hossain claims the loss is about Tk 4 lakh, and he has filed a written complaint with Jhenaidah Sadar police station.

Bipul Hossain is the son of Md Samchhul Mondal of Sonardair village in Holidhani union of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Army member Abu Hanif is the son of the late Ali Hossain of the same area.

Bipul Hossain drives an easy-bike for a living. He leased 50 decimals of land for five years from his neighbours Mosharef and his mother Fatema. The lease was Tk 25,000 a year, or Tk 1,25,000 over five years. Because there were trees on the land, he also agreed to pay Tk 35,000 for them and Tk 20,000 for the wire fence. In all, Bipul Hossain made a five-year agreement worth Tk 1,80,000 with the landowner Mosharraf Hossain and his mother, and paid Tk 1,20,000 in advance to Mosharef and Fatema under the agreement.

But after three years, before the five years were up, Mosharef's brother, army member Abu Hanif, tried to take possession of the land, and Bipul pointed to the agreement. Abu Hanif then complained to the police station, and police called both sides to an arbitration. There it was decided that although the lease had not expired, Bipul would sell the malta crop and then give up the land. Then on Tuesday, two labourers, army member Abu Hanif and his wife's relatives cut down the malta trees with their fruit.

Bipul Hossain's nephew Samrat Mia said: "I came to the field at noon to cut grass and heard the sound of trees being cut in my uncle's orchard. When I went towards it, I saw Hanif, his wife, his sister-in-law and several others cutting the malta trees. When I tried to stop them, they came at me brandishing a machete. Then I went home and told my uncle."

Malta grower Bipul Hossain said: "I leased this land for five years. The agreement is now in its third year, with two years still to run. But Hanif has repeatedly threatened me to give up the land. A month ago he came to seize it. He filed complaints against me at the police station and at the army camp. The army and police called both sides. I showed them my agreement papers. Then everyone decided that since there were maltas on the trees, I would have to return the land two years early after selling the fruit."

He added: "I agreed to their decision. I also wanted to sell the maltas, since the trees were loaded, and then give up the land. But suddenly Hanif came with his wife and relatives and cut down my fruiting malta trees. Each tree in the orchard was carrying more than 50 to 60 kg of maltas. At current market prices, the loss on the 50 decimals is more than Tk 5 lakh. I want justice."

Army member Md Abu Hanif said: "I knew nothing about the lease of this land. It is my land; my brother Mosharaf leased it to Bipul. When I found out, I called him and told him, you are a poor man and I don't want to harm you, so leave the land in your own way. He still did not give it up. That is why I cut the trees."

Ashraful Islam, UP member for the Sonardair ward of Holidhani union, said: "The land belonged to Ali Hossain of the neighbouring village. After he died, his son Abu Hanif became the owner as his heir. Hanif works in the army. While he was in service, his brother Mosharef, his sister's husband and his mother together leased the land to Bipul of our village for five years. When Hanif became the owner after his father's death, he told Bipul: my mother leased this land, I don't accept it, the land must be returned. Bipul then said, if you won't let me keep it, at least give me a chance to harvest the maltas."

He added: "When a dispute arose in between, Bipul Hossain filed a complaint at the Jhenaidah army camp, which called both sides. Because army member Abu Hanif did not accept his mother's decision, the arbitration decided that Bipul Hossain could farm the land until the maltas were sold. Accordingly, the maltas would have been ready for market within the next month, and he would have given up the land. But being an army member, he cut down a farmer's fruiting trees."

Jahangir Al Mamun, in-charge of Katlamari police camp, visited the scene after hearing of the incident. He said: "The fruiting malta and guava trees have been cut down. I have filmed everything and spoken to the OC. The law is equal for everyone. Action will be taken after investigation."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.