In Panishail (Nijgaon) area of Uttarbhag Union of Rajnagar Upazila, seven houses without windows of about 7 feet length and 8 feet width were found. The complaints of the locals are 'torture cell' by Central Jubo League executive member Advocate Abdur Raqib Montu. Before the fall of the Awami League government, he used to come here late at night in a black car with people and leave again early in the morning. The mystery of the locals about these houses is still not over.
On the spot, it is known that Montu, a resident of Nizampur village of Fenchuganj Upazila of Sylhet, served as Assistant Attorney General and General Secretary of Bangladesh Athletics Federation. Once he developed a garden of different species of forest trees on his own and occupied land in Panishail (Nizgaon) village of Rajnagar, Moulvibazar. Own land there is 2 acres 7 percent. And others occupied 2 acres and 47 percent of the land. During his tenure as Assistant Attorney General, Montu filed a case against his maternal uncle, Nurul Islam Kala Miah, the owner of the adjoining land, and his family members. He gave one case after another to the caretaker to take away all the neighboring land including uncle's homestead.
Locals claim that miscreants killed Abdul Malek, the caretaker of Montu's property, near Nijgaon Community Clinic in the dark of night on November 17, 2021. That night the police arrested Kala Mia and her family members. In this incident, Montu filed a murder case against the family members at Rajnagar police station. In the same case, Rajshahi University student Azizur Rahman, grandson of Kala Mia, was also arrested. As Kala Mia's family members were in jail, Montu took over all the land including the residence. As his uncle was in prison for a long time, Montu took over his land and built a 'torture cell' there. Kala Mier built 'Bashir-Rabeya Cottage' with a boundary wall in front of his land along with his residence. Inside the wall there are seven separate houses with single tin roofs. These rooms have no windows.
Locals said that these houses were never opened during the day. However, Montu used to come here late at night in a black car with people, and would leave again at dawn. The locals were so afraid of him that they did not dare to go inside the wall. Meanwhile, Kala Mia and her family members got bail in June this year after almost two and a half years. After that, they saw that Montu has taken over 40 percent of the land, including houses.
Nannu Mia of Panishail village said, We have been seeing Kala Mia living in this house since childhood. While Kala Mia was in jail, Montu took over her house and land and built seven small houses. Montu and his people used to come to these rooms at night. These rooms were used as 'torture cells' of Awami League. Advocate Montu has been harassing the family with false cases for a long time.
Kala Mia said, I have been living in this house for 70 years. My sister and sister's sons have sold and deeded these lands to me for permanent residence. Montu has harassed me by repeatedly suing me to take away the land despite having the documents. By killing his caretaker himself, Montu filed a murder case against my entire family. I can't enter my house on bail. The police are being harassed.
Kala Mia's grandson Azizur Rahman said, "The university canceled my studentship because I was in jail for a long time in the Montur case." Montu destroyed the whole family. The 83-year-old stayed elsewhere. With the help of the villagers, we reached the house. But the police are forbidding Nana to enter the house.
Advocate Abdur Raqib Montu tried to contact the mobile phone several times to inquire about the matter, but it was switched off.
Rajnagar Police Station OC Shah Md. Mubaswir said that there are two cases on both sides regarding the land. A person complained about entering the old man's house. But the old man's family will not be prevented from staying in the house. When asked about the torture cell, he said, I have heard about it. We will investigate the matter.
