Family of six living in cafe after compulsory acquisition for Marion Rd intersection development

A family of six say they’ve been left “no hope” of finding a home like their old one after being forced out and left living in a single room.

Rashed Kabir, his wife Samina and their four children are living out the back of his cafe after their house was acquired for the Marion Rd project. Picture: Brett Hartwig

A Brooklyn Park family of six say they have been forced to share a single room after the government short-changed them $300,000 for their property, leaving them with “no hope” of finding a comparable new house.

Business owner Rashed Kabir, 39, his wife Samima and their children Muntahar, 11, Adi Ibn, 8, and twins Aamia and Raima, 2, are living at the back of his Sir Donald Bradman Dr cafe and rug business after their house was acquired for the $85m Marion Rd intersection upgrade.

The couple, who immigrated from Bangladesh 20 years ago, had only been in their newly-built Brooklyn Park subdivision for two years when they received a notice of intention to acquire their home.

In June, the state government offered Mr Kabir a total of $1.397m for the property — but, with the twins just babies at the time and the rear property earning a rental income of $35k per annum — he decided to turn down the offer.

Rashed Kabir and daughter Raima, his wife Samima and children Aaima, Muntahar and Adi Ibn. Picture: Brett Hartwig

He received another notice on August 16, telling him the house would be compulsorily acquired in September 2023. However, this time, the Department of Transport sent a revised offer totalling $1.07m.

Mr Kabir said he has spent the past 10 months pushing for a new offer from the government but, after being told seven weeks ago the property would be revalued, still had “no indication” of what was happening.

“We came to this country to have a life, we built our cafes to live comfortably and we finally built our first home — and the government took it,” he said.

“They took my land and have pretty much left me in the dark.”

Mr Kabir said a block of land nearby recently sold for $905,000 — and he had “no hope” of finding a comparable house large enough for his family with the $1 million currently on the table.

“We’re lucky because we still have a roof over our heads, but the fact is, we had a new house, we got kicked out, and now we’re living in the back of a shed because the government isn’t making any decision,” he said.

A Department for Infrastructure and Transport spokesperson said Mr Kabir had been offered alternative accommodation in a government-owner property at discounted rent.

An artist’s impression of the Sir Donald Bradman and Marion Rd intersection upgrade, for which Mr Kabir’s house was acquired. Picture: Supplied

Mr Kabir took up this accommodation for three months — but decided to leave after being informed the property would be vacated in November.

“Whether we moved now or later, the suffering was inevitable,” Mr Kabir said.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo lashed the “penny-pinching” Department for Transport for seemingly short-changing Mr Kabir, labelling the situation “ludicrous”.

Mr Pangallo said he had been told other nearby businesses had also been financially impacted by the project.

“I am for progress, but this type of distressing disturbance should not come at a great cost financially and emotionally for these people,” he said.

“The government needs to be fair-minded and not play hard ball with lives and livelihoods because it knows it can in a very safe Labor seat.”

A department spokesperson said all valuations were sourced independently by licensed valuers and any large discrepancies between the property owner and department’s valuations were dealt with through a legislated process.

“The Department for Infrastructure and Transport always endeavours to engage constructively and sensitively with property owners impacted by significant projects such as this,” they said.

“Given this process remains ongoing, and is managed by legal representatives, it is not appropriate for the department to make further comment.”

Mr Pangallo has called for amendments to the Land Acquisitions Act, which was last updated in 2019, to account for surging property prices.