Awami League's 16-year empire in Jamalpur is under the control of BNP

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, which was in power for 16 years through the anti-discrimination student movement, BNP leaders and workers are occupying the bus stand, CNG stand, bazaar, Balumhal, etc., occupied by the Awami League in Jamalpur one by one. There are also reports of an attempt to reach an agreement between the leaders and workers of Awami League and BNP to share the subscription money raised from Balumhal and transport sector. Even though BNP has given strict instructions to the leaders and workers to refrain from encroachment, extortion and looting, it is not working.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina in the student uprising on August 5, BNP leaders and activists attacked and vandalized the houses and businesses of Awami League people in seven upazilas of the district including Sadar. Most of the incidents happen at headquarters. In this, there was a back and forth between the two sides of BNP to take possession of Balumhal.

For 16 consecutive years, Awami League leaders and workers have been picking up sand day and night from half a hundred places in around 25 km area of ​​Brahmaputra river from Chankanda of Jamalpur city to Pierpur area. He used to charge 200 to 400 taka per truck on the road in the name of lease. Now the BNP leaders and workers have taken over the sand business.

Union BNP President Mizanur Rahman and General Secretary Rafiqul Islam along with Member Secretary of District Jubo Dal to occupy a Balumhal in Jairampur area of ​​Sharifpur Union on August 18. Suhail's followers chased each other. At that time, the house of Rezaul Karim, the former convenor of the Sharifpur Union Volunteer Party, a follower of Suhail, was vandalized.

Rezaul Karim said on the phone, 'Bal Ghats are now under the control of district BNP leaders. My house was vandalized while going to the Ghat.' However, Union BNP president Mizanur Rahman denied the allegations and said, 'no incident happened with my people that day. Something happened with the people at Asim Enterprises, the lessees of Balumhal. I don't know that. None of us went to Balumhal.'

According to local sources, the district administration leased two balumhals in six areas including Chankanda, Charyatharthpur, Sharifpur, Nandina, Narundi, Pierpur of Sadar Upazila at the beginning of Bengali New Year. As Awami League was in power at that time, the party's local leaders and supporters took the lease of these ghats. After the fall of the government, the leaders and workers of BNP took control of these ghats.

Haji Bahar Uddin, owner of M/s Haji Enterprises and president (acting) of Ward No. 9 of Jamalpur Municipal Awami League, said, 'I have legally taken Balumhal lease. But after August 5, the lease collection stopped. BNP leaders vandalized everything. They are now asking for 40 percent of the rent. If you want to do business, you have to negotiate with them. There is nothing to do now.'

For 16 years, the control of the city's central bus stand was in the hands of Awami League leaders and workers. It was taken over by BNP people after August 5. Most of the car owners are Awami League leaders and their followers. Most of them are in hiding after the fall of the government. On this occasion, the District Bus Owners' Committee of the Awami League period was excluded and a new District Bus Owners' Committee was formed on August 22, comprising the leaders of various levels of the district BNP. In the new committee, Jamalpur BNP Ward No. 7 General Secretary Sakhawat Hossain (Shubh) has been made the General Secretary and former district Awami League member Rafiqul Islam (Journeys) as the President.

Bus stand-related persons said that Sakhawat has no car. Still he became the General Secretary of the Owners Association. Those who are included in the committee. Most of them do not have car business. They are in the committee only because of BNP.

Sakhawat Hossain said, 'No fee is collected at the bus stand as before. Everything is now open. I have been made general secretary by vote of 56 owners and workers. Regarding not owning a car, he said, 'If I don't have a car, what made me the general secretary? I have a car.'

Sadikur Rahman, the organizing secretary of the district workers' party, has taken control of the Jamalpur municipal bus stand. Last Saturday afternoon, Sadikur was seen sitting with people in the bus stand premises. Sadikur Rahman said, 'Awami League leaders and workers are on the run. For this we are managing the bus stand. Now no subscription is taken.'

Bakshiganj upazila bus stand has also been taken over by former member secretary of upazila BNP Abdul Qayyum, president of upazila workers' party. Shahinuzzaman and General Secretary Md. Moniruzzaman. Shahinuzzaman claimed, 'The workers are running the bus stand since the Awami League leaders fled. We did not go there and no subscription is taken.'

Motherganj Municipal Bus Stand is now the President of Upazila Sramik Dal. Under the control of Anwar Zahid. When asked, Anwar Zahid said, 'Many groups tried to create trouble at the bus stand. I control it. At present the bus stand is being managed by workers and drivers. However, a leader of Upazila Awami League said on condition of anonymity that the bus stand has now been taken over by BNP leaders.

District BNP General Secretary Shah Md. Waresh Ali Mamun said that for a long time all places were under the sole control of Awami League leaders and workers. As they fled, the places became vacant. Local leaders and activists may have gone there, but it cannot be called occupation. After August 5, many places including bus stands, CNG stands in the district were in a state of immobility. The local leaders and workers of BNP have arranged to activate them. Regarding the committee of the bus stand owner association, he said that the bus owners have formed the committee to keep things normal.

Waresh Ali Mamun said, 'I have told the leaders and workers in every meeting that no occupation, extortion and disorder can be done anywhere. Those who do, organizational action will be taken against them. After that, if you do something somewhere, action will be taken quickly with inquiry.'

Source: Prothom Alo

Bangladesh /OF