Sonargaon, Bangladesh — Lamia Chowdhury, daughter of the late film actors Diti and Sohel Chowdhury, reported an assault in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon region on Saturday during a dispute regarding her ancestral property. The incident, which occurred around 3:00 p.m., escalated quickly as Lamia and her family were confronted by a group of hostile individuals upon their arrival.
According to Lamia, the confrontation turned violent when the attackers began hurling bricks at their vehicle, resulting in shattered windows. Amid the chaos, she broadcast the ordeal live on Facebook, capturing footage of the aggressive encounter, which depicted several assailants targeting her and her relatives.
Lamia, visibly distressed, detailed the events to local media, explaining that these visits to Narayanganj were a regular part of her routine. “I usually visit Narayanganj on Fridays and Saturdays to spend time with my cousins and other relatives. However, today, right when we arrived, we were ambushed,” she recounted. The assault, she believes, is connected to a longstanding conflict over the rights to her family’s land, a prized possession left behind by her deceased parents.
The violence took a severe personal toll on Lamia, who suffered physical injuries during the attack. “One of the attackers pushed me to the ground, resulting in a broken leg,” she said, her voice breaking as she described how her phone was snatched and her clothing torn in the skirmish.
In an emotional revelation, Lamia expressed the profound sense of vulnerability she feels in the wake of her parents’ deaths. Her brother, who resides abroad, has left her to manage their estates alone, a responsibility that has apparently made her a target. “Since both my parents passed away, everyone knows we are more vulnerable, especially as attempts to intimidate me have escalated because I am a woman,” she said.
Lamia also shared her frustrations over being unable to protect her property and her relatives who reside on it. “Today, I was forced to watch helplessly as the attackers locked my family members inside their house, barring them from coming outside to help,” she recounted. The attack not only represents a physical assault but an ongoing battle over her heritage and rights to her ancestral lands.
Further emphasizing her plight, Lamia turned again to social media. In a poignant post, she lamented her isolation: “Is there no one with me? Just because my parents are gone, does that mean I have no one? No one, no one, no one.” Later, she revealed more about her injuries: “They broke my leg. They are not even letting me go to the hospital. They threw bricks at my car and shattered it. I cannot walk.”
The incident in Sonargaon underscores a grim reality of property disputes in Bangladesh, where such clashes can often turn violent and personal. It also highlights the unique vulnerabilities faced by women in positions of land ownership, particularly those without robust familial or community support structures. Lamia vows to continue defending her rights to the land, a stark reminder of the enduring challenges that lie ahead.