The administration has freed the ancestral home of renowned poet and novelist Sunil Gangopadhyay from the possession of a BNP leader in Dasar of Madaripur.
The lock placed by the BNP leader on the novelist’s home has been removed and replaced with a new one.
However, no legal action has yet been taken against the alleged occupier.
On Tuesday at around 12pm, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kalkini Upazila, Uttam Kumar Das, announced that the entire property, including the house and land, was under administrative control after a visit with a police and military convoy to the poet's ancestral home in East Maijpara.
Previously, Sohail Howlader, former legal affairs secretary of the BNP's Kalkini Upazila chapter, had claimed the property as his family’s land and occupied it.
Sunil Gangopadhyay's ancestral home in Madaripur occupied by BNP leaderHe damaged several items and furniture inside the house and used it to store OMS rice before locking it up.
Following widespread condemnation and discussion on social media by literary enthusiasts, cultural figures, and concerned citizens, the district administration instructed the upazila administration to recover the property.
On Tuesday afternoon, UNO Uttam Kumar Das, along with Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mahbuba Islam, Dasar Police Station Officer-in-Charge SM Shafiqul Islam, and officials from the land and intelligence departments, inspected the property.
UNO Uttam Kumar Das stated: "The administration has fully taken control of Sunil Gangopadhyay's ancestral home and land. A new lock has been installed on the writer's house, and measures have been taken to prevent unauthorized access. We will soon establish a Sunil Gangopadhyay Memorial Museum, a bust of Sunil, an open stage by the pond, and a paved ghat at the site, making it a notable destination."
He added: "Legal action against the accused leader has not yet been taken, but discussions with higher authorities are underway to decide on the next steps."
Dasar police station Officer-in-Charge SM Shafiqul Islam said: “We will take legal action against the trespassing occupier once we receive a written complaint from the upazila administration. Additionally, the police will keep the writer’s house under surveillance to prevent similar incidents in the future."
