Remand for Associate in Gulshan Land Grabbing Case

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for Md. Yusuf (61), an associate of the notorious land grabber Hanif Howlader (alias “Fake Abdul Aziz Khan”), in connection with a fraudulent attempt to seize property and an extortion demand of Tk 20 lakh.

On Sunday, 19 April, Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah passed the order following a hearing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court. The accused was produced in court by the police to face charges involving forgery and criminal intimidation.

Judicial Proceedings and Remand Petition

The investigating officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Md. Arman Ali of Gulshan Police Station, initially filed a petition seeking a 10-day remand for Yusuf. During the hearing, the officer informed the court that Yusuf is a key operative in a sophisticated syndicate of land grabbers and fraudsters.

The prosecution argued that this criminal group specialises in identifying high-value properties in the Gulshan-1 area and attempting to occupy them through forged National Identity (NID) cards and fraudulent deeds. The investigation officer emphasised that interrogating Yusuf is essential to:

• Identify the primary masterminds behind the syndicate.

• Locate the absconding prime suspect, Ismail.

• Uncover the identities of other influential patrons providing logistical support to the group.

State counsel Shamsuddoha Suman supported the remand prayer, noting that the ringleader, Hanif Howlader, had already provided a confessional statement in court. In his testimony, Hanif admitted to impersonating the deceased owner, Abdul Aziz Khan. Despite opposition from defence counsel Golam Mostafa, who sought the cancellation of the remand, the court approved a two-day period for custodial interrogation.

Case Background and Allegations

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the incident occurred on 1 March at House 15, Road 127, Gulshan-1. A group of 20 to 25 unidentified individuals, led by Ismail and Yusuf, forcibly entered the premises. They halted ongoing construction work and demolished the boundary wall of the property.

The perpetrators allegedly demanded Tk 20 lakh in extortion from the house manager. They threatened to kill the on-site security personnel (Ansar members) and labourers if the demand was not met. Furthermore, the group cut down several fruit-bearing trees, including mango and jackfruit trees, inside the compound. Following the incident, the manager, Abu Shikdar Abu, filed a formal complaint at Gulshan Police Station on 3 March.

Investigation Findings: The “Fake Aziz” Identity

Police investigations revealed that the syndicate had been targeting this specific property for a significant duration. The original owner, Abdul Aziz Khan, is deceased. The suspect, Hanif Howlader, fabricated a fake NID and forged title deeds to present himself as the late owner.

Administrative Consequences

The case gained significant public attention following investigative reports suggesting police negligence or complicity in the attempted takeover. In the wake of these reports, Ali Ahmed Masud, the then Assistant Commissioner of the Gulshan Zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), was removed from his post.

Following five days of illegal occupation, the group led by the “Fake Aziz” vacated the premises. The rightful owners have since regained possession of the property. The police are continuing their efforts to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate.