Land Buyer Targeted by Smear Campaign After Property Sale, Seller Claims

A former Bangladesh Army member has accused his wife of spreading false allegations against the buyer of a property he sold in Gaibandha's Saghata Upazila, claiming the campaign began after the legal transfer of the land.

Speaking at a press conference at the Gaibandha Press Club, Ashraful Islam said he legally sold part of his property to local lawyer Advocate Zillur Rahman after facing financial difficulties caused by illness.

According to Ashraful, he purchased five decimals of land in the Jharabarsha Mouza of Dakbangla Bazar, Ghuridah Union, using savings from his military service.

He said he and his wife, Sanjida Shelly Shapla, jointly decided to build a three-story house on 2.5 decimals of the land, where the family lived.

Ashraful said that after becoming ill and needing money, he sold the house and 2.5 decimals of land to Advocate Zillur Rahman through a registered deed on April 8. He claimed possession of the property was formally handed over in the presence of his wife, father-in-law, and other family members.

Ashraful alleged that after the sale, his wife began spreading false and defamatory claims against the buyer.

He further claimed that on May 8, Shapla, accompanied by others, forced Asaduzzaman, the caretaker appointed by the new owner, to leave the property.

According to Ashraful, the caretaker later filed a case in the Saghata Executive Magistrate's Court on May 20. He said the court issued a show-cause notice, after which Shapla voluntarily vacated the property.

Ashraful also alleged that his wife had been influenced by political opponents of Advocate Zillur Rahman and was carrying out a deliberate campaign of misinformation.

He called on the relevant authorities to investigate the matter and take appropriate legal action.

Others present at the press conference included local residents Liaquat Ali and Asaduzzaman Parvez.

The allegations made by Ashraful Islam have not been independently verified, and no response from Sanjida Shelly Shapla was included in the statement.