Though the position of the shop was sold for a few lakhs during the 90s, the owner of a house located at 22 India Road, Farmgate in Dhaka has occupied six customers’ shops, having seen the price now being increased. Among the victims has a family of freedom fighter.
It has been learnt upon a field visit that the owner of commercial-cum-residential building is Monowara Begom. She is the mother-in-law of Faridur Rahman Khan aka Iran, the newly elected councilor of Ward no. 27 under the Dhaka city corporation (North).
Six shop owners were evicted from their shops on the night of May 1, just two days after the City Corporation election, and their shops have since been locked. Some of the evicted shopkeepers have complained at the police station, but to no avail.
Victims claim that in 1990s, Monowara Begom sold shops’ position to them. Since then, they have put up shops and business organizations there. On the ground floor of the five storied building, there were Bhagyokul Mishtanno Vandar, Mitu Confectionary, doctor’s chamber, saloon, book’s godown and pharmacy. But, now there is no signboard of any shop.
On a field visit, it is seen that a lock is hanging on the ground floor’s collapsible gate. Signboards have been removed. The partition walls of some of the shops have been demolished. Furniture and goods of the shop have been vandalized.
According to victims, position of the shops was sold for Tk. 1,50,000 to 3,50,000. In addition, they used to pay a nominal rent (starts from 700 taka) per month. As per the deed, if buyers want, they can transfer the position. In that case, position owners will get 90% of the total market value of the shops and the 10% will go to the building owner. At the current market value, the position of a big shop by the road is sold for Tk. 1 crore. A small shop located inside is sold for Tk. 15 to 20 lakh.
Owner of the building, Monowara Begom, lives abroad. In her absence, caretaker would collect that nominal rent from leased shops. In addition to the deed's papers, the position holders also have receipts of this monthly rental payment. Monowara Begom is now in Dhaka.
When asked over the phone, Monowara Begom said that the shopkeepers are tenants. Taking the advantage of her living abroad, they took possession of the shops. Now that she has come back, she has evicted them. She said, “If they want they can go to the court against my decision.” When asked about selling possession, she responded, “They forefully occupied the shops.”
Doctor Fazlul Karim used to run a private chamber on the ground floor of the building. He said that he bought the position of the shop with Tk. 1 lakh in 1993. Under the agreement, he would give 750 taka as rent at the beginning. This rent has now increased to 1100 taka. He said, “According to agreement if I want I can sell this position at a market price. In that case, the owner can also buy this position at a market price. But she cannot forcefully occupy the shop.”
When asked about Monowara Begom’s allegation about illegally occupying the building, one of the shop owners on the condition of anonymity said that he pays 1000 taka per month for a 150sq ft shop. But in that area the rent of the same sized shop is 20,000 to 25,000 taka. His question is-‘If the owner did not sale position why did she take such a low rent?’
Freedom fighter Mosharraf Hossain bought two shops from a position owner with Tk. 7,70000 during 90s. Afterwards, he broke the partition of the two shops and set up a sweet shop named Bhagyakul Mishtanno Vandar. After the death of Mosharraf Hossain, his wife Kamrun Nessa and children looked after the shop. Their family is run by the income coming from this shop. But, on the night of May 1, the shop was vandalized and locked.
Kamrun Nessa told Prothom Alo, after the death of her husband, she supported her family with the freedom fighter allowance and income of the shop. Now, it has become difficult to maintain the family. As the shop has been shut down and goods have been taken away, she has incurred a major loss.
Kamrunnessa complained that she went to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, but police did not file the case. But, police inspected the location at night. After that nothing happened.
As the incident took place just two days after the city corporation election and the building owner's son-in-law being elected councilor of that area, no one at the beginnig dared to say anything and even did not even go to the police station.
But councilor Faridur Rahman claimed to Prothom Alo that his relation with his in-laws family is not good. When asked why the incident of ousting the possession holders took place just two days after city election, he said, ‘It is not right to blame me for anything done by someone of my in-laws family.’
But Faridur Rahman Khan also said that, shopkeepers bought the position and rented the shop to other people taking huge amount of money. That is why, his mother-in-law has evicted them. He said, ‘Now if anyone come to me with a written complaint, as a councilor I will try to resolve the dispute between the two parites.’
Faridur Rahman Khan aka Iran is General Secretary of Awami Volunteer League (Dhaka City North). He was president of Tejgaon College Chhatro League.

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