Rickshaw Puller’s Family Locked Out of Home for 8 Days Over Unpaid Interest in Noakhali

In Hatiya, Noakhali, a moneylender named Tofayel Ahmmad has locked the doors of a house allocated under the Ashrayan Project, belonging to rickshaw puller Ekram Hossain, due to unpaid interest on a loan. For the past eight days, Ekram’s family, including his wife, children, and elderly mother-in-law, has been forced to live on the open veranda, enduring rain and storms.

On Friday (August 22, 2025) afternoon, a visit to the Ashrayan Project in Charbagula village, Ward No. 7 of Charking Union, revealed Ekram’s wife and mother-in-law sitting in front of the locked house. The doors of their two-room home were secured with padlocks, while their young children shivered under mosquito nets nearby. Locals reported that Ekram had borrowed money from Tofayel Ahmmad on interest to meet personal needs. Unable to pay the interest regularly, Tofayel locked the family’s Ashrayan Project house, leaving them to live in inhumane conditions under the open sky. Ekram Hossain shared that in 2015, he borrowed Tk 60,000 from Tofayel to cover medical expenses for two people injured in an accident. Over time, additional borrowing increased his debt to approximately Tk 71,000. He claims to have already repaid Tk 186,000, yet the burden of interest has ruined his life. Ekram further alleged that Tofayel assaulted him multiple times, forced him to sign stamp papers, and recently removed all household belongings before locking the house in his absence. As a result, his family has been sleeping on the veranda. Ekram’s wife said, “For eight days, we’ve been living on the open veranda with our children. They’re falling ill from getting wet in the rain. Cooking has stopped, and we’re surviving on the kindness of neighbors.” Local physician Abdul Halim described the situation as heartbreaking, stating, “Locking someone’s home over money is utterly inhumane. The children are suffering from cold-related illnesses, but the family can’t even afford medicine.” Tofayel Ahmmad, the accused moneylender, defended his actions, saying, “He borrowed money from me on profit. He was avoiding repayment, so I locked the house. I’ll unlock it once he pays back.” Charking Union Parishad Chairman Naim Uddin told Dhaka Post that locking a home over unpaid interest is a punishable offense under the law. “I’ve sent a chowkidar to unlock the house and am trying to mediate between the two parties to resolve the issue,” he added.