Stepbrothers forced property deed at knifepoint: MP's wife files case

An allegation has been raised that Sunamganj-2 (Derai-Shalla) Member of Parliament Nasir Uddin Chowdhury was forced at knifepoint by his three stepbrothers to sign over his property. Parveen Akter, the MP's wife, has filed a case against eight individuals, including the three stepbrothers, in connection with the incident. The court has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police to investigate the case and submit a report.

The case was filed at the Judicial Magistrate Court of Derai Zone in Sunamganj on Monday (August 10). The judge of the court, Md. Jasim, took the case into cognizance and ordered an investigation into the allegations, according to the plaintiff's lawyer, Kawsar Alam.

The prime accused in the case is Moin Uddin Chowdhury alias Masuk Chowdhury, who is the younger stepbrother of Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and joint convenor of the Derai Upazila BNP. The other accused are his two other stepbrothers Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury and Mosleh Uddin Chowdhury, Amirul Islam of Matargaon village, Soyful Chowdhury of Purano Karnagaon village, deed writer Mujibur Rahman of Tal Bausi village, Tajul Islam of Kolior Kapan, and Momtaz Begum, a mohrar (clerk) at the Derai Sub-Registrar's Office.

In the statement of claim, Parveen Akter alleged that Nasir Chowdhury has long been suffering from physical illness and mental incapacity. Taking advantage of this, his three stepbrothers planned to misappropriate the property by depriving Nasir's two wives and children.

According to the complaint, on January 25, 2022, the three stepbrothers brought two employees of the Derai Sub-Registrar's Office, posing as officials, and asked Nasir Chowdhury to sign a document. When he refused, the accused held a knife (da) to his throat and threatened to kill him if he did not sign.

The case mentions that when Nasir Chowdhury's other wife, Shelly Chowdhury, protested, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury threatened to kill her as well. The plaintiff alleged that out of fear, she collapsed onto the floor.

It is also alleged that an eyewitness to the event and Nasir Chowdhury's supporter, Wakib Hasan, was threatened and driven out of the house.

Additionally, the case alleges that when Parveen Akter visited Nasir's house in Derai in January 2022, she was subjected to assault and sexual harassment.

Plaintiff's lawyer Kawsar Alam stated that the court took the complaint into cognizance and directed the CID to investigate and submit a report.

Earlier, on April 18 of last year, Parveen Akter had filed a complaint at the Derai police station against Nasir's stepbrothers Masuk Chowdhury and Milon Chowdhury for allegedly beating him.

Later, in July of the same year, in an application submitted to the then Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Derai Upazila, Nasir Chowdhury alleged that while he was admitted to the hospital for treatment, his stepbrothers made him sign several papers. He was told that the property would be deeded in the name of his daughters. Later, he came to know that the property was registered in the names of the three stepbrothers, depriving his daughters, the application stated.