Around 3.59 acres of Waqf property, situated beside the old Grand Trunk Road in Burdwan town, have allegedly been illegally sold to private individuals, leading to the construction of various commercial establishments, the All Bengal Save Waqf Committee claimed at a press briefing this afternoon.
Local protesters have reported to the state Waqf Board that nursing homes, market complexes, individual shops, and workshops have sprung up on the disputed land.
The land in question, located at Goda Mouza under Burdwan – I block, was originally donated by Marzia Khatun of Kamalsayar to a local madrassa in 1946. According to Mohammed Murselin Farhan, convenor of the committee in Burdwan: “The land has been indiscriminately sold over the years with the alleged connivance of certain land and land revenue officials. Several businessmen, entrepreneurs, and private individuals have unauthorisedly acquired the protected Waqf land.”
The Tikorhat Madrassa, the original beneficiary of the donation, became defunct due to a lack of student enrolment, particularly after a state-run madrassa began operating in the nearby Keshabgunj area. According to Murselin, “The secretary of the now-defunct Tikorhat Madrassa began selling the Waqf land, which is a prohibited act.”
The committee has filed a petition with the waqf tribunal seeking redress. Members such as Ibrahim Sheikh and Fazar Ali Sheikh have alleged that of the total donated land, originally measuring five decimals, only a fraction—approximately one-fifth—now remains with the madrassa.