The Arpita Sampatty Ain Protirodh Andolan (vested property law resistance movement), Sylhet, at a rally yesterday afternoon called the hartal and also demanded a judicial inquiry into the lease order.

The speakers also demanded fresh lease to the people who are in possession of Singha Bari. The rally was chaired by the Sylhet district Awami League President ANM Shafique.

An organised group of land grabbers under the shelter of influential quarters and the district administration is out to occupy the valuable property worth about Tk 4 crore in Sylhet city's Chouhatta area.

The DC recently leased Singha Bari to some people without giving any prior notice to those in possession of the property. The inhabitants are feeling insecure and the DC's order has sparked a commotion among civil society in Sylhet.

Several such attempts were made in the past by land grabbers to take possession of the property.

Govinda Narayan Singha Majumder was the owner of the historic house known as 'Singha Bari'.

Dignitaries like Rabindranath Tagore and rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam had visited the house. Some of Govinda's successors went to India during the Pakistan period while some others were still in possession of the house.