Sunil Gangopadhyay's ancestral land freed from illegal occupation
The property, located in Purba Maizpara village in Dasar upazila, was freed today (10 September) after intervention by the upazila administration, with support from the Bangladesh Army
The ancestral land of novelist Sunil Gangopadhyay has been reclaimed through administrative intervention in Madaripur, following a three-day occupation by a local BNP leader.
The property, located in Purba Maizpara village in Dasar upazila, was freed on Tuesday after intervention by the upazila administration, with support from the Bangladesh Army, said Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer Uttam Kumar Das.
Despite the recovery, the accused, Sohel Hawlader, remains at large.
Hawlader, the former legal affairs secretary of the BNP's Dasar upazila unit, is alleged to have illegally occupied the home, turning it into a rice warehouse. He also dismantled a signboard installed by the district administration in front of the house.
Sources say upon hearing of the army's involvement, Hawlader fled the scene with his belongings. During the occupation, valuable personal items, including photographs, books, and mementoes belonging to the late novelist, were damaged or destroyed.
The incident has sparked outrage across Madaripur. Local poets, writers, and cultural activists have condemned the occupation and called for swift legal action against Hawlader.
Sunil Gangopadhyay, a prominent figure in Bengali literature, is remembered for his significant contributions to poetry, novels, and children's literature.