Mohammad Hashem Molla, father of Md. Russell Ahmed—the central organizer and Dhaka district coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP)—faced strong resistance from local traders after allegedly attempting to occupy government land in the Joypara Bazar area of Dohar, Dhaka. The incident occurred on Friday morning, August 1, when Hashem Molla began fencing off a section of public land at the local cattle market.

According to members of the market management committee, Hashem Molla attempted to enclose approximately one decimal of government-owned space using corrugated tin and fencing. Upon receiving information about the development, the president and general secretary of the committee, accompanied by several other members, rushed to the location.

Witnesses say that Hashem Molla reacted aggressively when confronted, issuing threats to retaliate against the market committee. His behavior provoked anger among local business owners, who demanded that the unauthorized fence be removed without delay.

Eventually, the fence was dismantled by the traders themselves, who expressed deep dissatisfaction with what they described as an unjustified land-grabbing attempt.

President of the Traders' Association, S.M. Kuddus, condemned the incident, stating that such actions were unacceptable, particularly from a figure closely related to a political leader. Other local businesspeople echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that Hashem Molla had shown a growing interest in the land since shortly after August 5, when initial signs of encroachment had reportedly begun.

When asked about his actions, Hashem Molla claimed that the plot in question had been legally purchased and that the ownership had been secured through official land records. However, when pressed for documentation to substantiate his claim, he was unable to produce any legal documents or title deeds to support his assertion.

Md. Russell Ahmed, the NCP leader and Hashem Molla’s son, responded to the controversy by stating that he had been informed of the incident. He assured that the relevant land documents would be reviewed to verify the legitimacy of the claim.

The incident has sparked concern among residents and business operators in the area, who have called for stricter enforcement to prevent future attempts to seize public land. It also raises questions about the influence of political affiliation in land disputes, especially when such affiliations are seen to embolden individuals in asserting questionable ownership over state-owned property.

No law enforcement intervention was reported at the time of the event, though locals have urged authorities to step in if further attempts at encroachment are made. The situation remains under watch as both the market committee and the local community await clarification on the ownership claim and any further action from the authorities or the NCP leadership.