Aggrieved homeless individuals in Ahmedpur, Natore Sadar upazila, staged a protest on the Natore-Dhaka highway on Friday afternoon, alleging irregularities in the allocation of houses under the Ashrayan Project by the Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

The protest, which lasted for about an hour, caused traffic disruptions on both sides of the highway. Protesters accused UNO Akter Jahan Sathi of corruption, claiming that houses were allocated to individuals who already owned homes, leaving the truly needy homeless.

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Senior district administration officials, police, and army personnel arrived at the scene to mediate. The demonstrators dispersed after receiving assurances from the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) that their grievances would be addressed and the allegations against the UNO investigated.

According to Mahabubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Natore Sadar Police Station, and local residents, the upazila administration constructed 90 houses in Char tebaria village, Chapila union of Gurudaspur upazila, under the Ashrayan Project for landless and homeless families. Out of 120 applicants, 90 families were selected to receive houses.

The protesters claimed irregularities in the selection process and demanded justice. Following the assurance of an investigation, they ended their blockade, and traffic resumed on the highway.

Denying the allegations, UNO Akter Jahan Sathi stated that a new list of beneficiaries would be prepared to ensure fair distribution of houses.