Former minister and BNP joint secretary general Mirza Abbas yesterday refuted the allegations made by a parliamentary standing committee that he had grabbed railway lands in the capital by abusing power.

He claimed that his family has long been living on their homestead land measuring three bighas as legal heirs.

Mirza Abbas, flanked by his family members, made the remarks at a press conference at his Shahjahanpur residence.

His 90-year-old mother Kamla Khatun, his uncle Abdul Mannan and aunt Mukterunnessa were present at the press conference.

Abbas also alleged that at the instigation of a certain individual, a newcomer in his constituency, the parliamentary standing committee on communications ministry accused him and his family members of grabbing five acres of land, which was acquired earlier by the Bangladesh Railway.

He also demanded return of some 7.5 acres of his ancestral land in the area, particularly at Shahjahanpur, which was acquired by the railway authority and being used illegally for commercial use through setting up market and . shops.

On Sunday, the parliamentary standing committee at a press briefing at Jatiya Sangsad Media centre alleged that Mirza .Abbas grabbed four to five acres of land acquired earlier by the Railway authority.