Rashedul Islam
There have been allegations that the Kalni Community Cemetery, built for freedom fighters and residents in Rupganj Purbachal, Narayanganj, was demolished in the dark of night without notice.
Even the RAJUK authorities have banned burials here for the next 6 months.
However, RAJUK has denied this allegation. Many people are mentally broken after seeing the condition of their relatives’ graves. The incident took place recently at the Kalni Community Cemetery in Sector 22 of Purbachal. It is known that in 1995, Rajuk acquired land from 17 mouzas in Rupganj, Narayanganj to build the Purbachal project. Around 2012, a place was designated for a cemetery in Sector 22 (Kalni) of Purbachal to bury the residents living there after their deaths. It was named Kalni Community Cemetery. Since its inception, about 300 deceased people living in 17 mouzas of Purbachal have been buried in this cemetery. Meanwhile, a few days ago, RAJUK contractors demolished the cemetery in the dark of night without giving any notice. Upon receiving the news, local freedom fighters and commanders, including ordinary people, tried to stop them, but they were unable to do so. They were even forbidden from burying any dead bodies for the next 6 months. The demolition of the cemetery without notice has left local residents, including freedom fighters, mentally devastated. The locals are demanding that the cemetery remain here. However, an official of the contractor company engaged by RAJUK claimed that the cemetery is being renovated to make it larger and more beautiful. Abdul Aziz Molla, a resident of Kalni area, said that he and other people are digging graves to bury the deceased at the Kalni community cemetery. Suddenly, he became emotional after RAJUK and its contractor demolished the cemetery a few days ago. In this regard, Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Saiful Islam said, “Local people informed me about the vandalism of the cemetery.”
“I will investigate the matter and talk to the ministry about how to resolve it.” RAJUK’s Chief Engineer (Purbachal Project Implementation) Md. Nurul Islam said, ‘No graves have been dug in the cemetery.
The cemetery was overgrown with bushes and jungle, which has been cleared.
The cemetery is being made more beautiful. A beautiful boundary wall will be built like the Banani Cemetery. There will be walkways to allow movement. Apart from this, there will be a larger area of ​​16 acres of land with 10,736 burial places. We have talked to the freedom fighters and they will have 15 burial places.