A certain quarter is trying to grab the land of the Dhaka Armenian
Church by showing fake documents in the court
New Age (Bangladesh)
Friday, January 07, 2005
A certain quarter is trying to grab the land of the Dhaka Armenian
Church by showing fake documents in the court, Michael Joseph Martin, in
charge of the church, told New Age on Thursday.
Martin is the only Armenian in Bangladesh who looks after the church,
one of the famous landmarks in Old Dhaka.
Martin alleged Billal Shah, along with a few goons, had entered the
church premises on December 6 when he went to attend the court.
Billal and his thugs broke the church’s gate and tried to build some new
pillars, to strengthen his case, with the church’s own brick and cement,
which it had bought for a new construction.
Earlier, Billal had filed a case in the 3rd court, under senior
assistant judge, KM Mostakinur Rahman, demanding allocation of one of
the plots of the church.
On the day Martin went to attend the court, Billal took advantage of his
absence and entered the church’s premises.
The warden said with the approval of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, they
began the construction of a market on the plot in October 2004 in order
to develop a source of earning for the maintenance of the church.
Billal Shah, being refused tenancy of one of the front shops, said the
plot had been bought by him from someone called Biswajit Datta Bhulu.
After he lodged the case against church authorities, the court stayed
the construction of the market.
The Armenian Church in Armanitola was established in 1600. Armenian
traders had come to the Indian subcontinent in the 12th century.
After the ample success of Armenians in trade, Mughal Emperor Akbar
permitted them to preach.
Many Armenians settled in the subcontinent and the Armenian Church in
old Dhaka was one of the meeting places for the orthodox Armenian
Christians, who observe Christmas on January 7. The church has 350 graves.
Armanitola and the Armenian Street were named after the Armenian
community in Dhaka. The Armenians gradually migrated to other countries.
It was reported in a newspaper in 2003 that the only Armenian left in
Bangladesh is fifty-year-old Martin, the guardian of the Church.
The 400-year-old church has about two acres of land with four holding
numbers.
As the ancient church is situated at a busy corner of the city, the
land-grabbers often feel tempted to take over the land.
Another plot of the church has also been occupied by tenants for about
20 years with a monthly rent of only Tk 1,800, in a location where the
rent should be about Tk 20,000.
Martin told New Age that the church’s property is the property of God,
and as it is a sacred place the government should look after and guard
the land.
He said Billal could not show any proper documents in the court. `I have
documents of the land taxes’ receipts and other government billing
documents, but it is painful to have the court conspiring with people
like Billal Shah to grab the land of a church.’
Billal told New Age that he had bought the plot of land from Bhulu and
the church was occupying the plot illegally.
He refused to speak further on the issue and asked New Age to wait for
the court’s decision.
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