BNP leaders-activists in control of Shimulia ghat, charges of extortion

BNP leaders and activists have occupied Shimulia Ferry Ghat, Mach Ghat and Traller Ghat of Munshiganj Lauhjong Upazila. They are beating the people of legitimate lease holders and taking them out of the wharf.

It has been alleged that Kumarbhog union BNP president of the upazila led by Kausar Talukdar and his followers are doing this work.

According to the lessee, the Shimulia ferry wharf was used for passenger crossing before the Padma Bridge was commissioned. After the inauguration of the bridge, passenger crossing through the ghat was stopped. But thousands of visitors come here every day. In the current financial year, Sultan Molla, general secretary of Lauhjong Upazila Krishak League, took the lease of the ghat for about 1 crore 42 lakh taka from BIWTA. He also leased two trawler wharves here for 8 lakh taka and a fish wharf for 10 lakh taka separately. The operation of the wharf was going on according to the government rules.

According to the leaseholder and local sources, after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, the important leaders and workers of the party went into hiding. On this occasion, a group of leaders and activists of Union BNP, Juba Dal, Chhatra Dal, Svechchasevak Dal led by Kausar Talukdar, president of Kumarbhog Union BNP took over all the businesses of the Ghat. They prevent the lessees from withdrawing money. On August 16, they (Kauser's people) started collecting money themselves from parking lot, trawler wharf, shops, restaurants.

The next day, the vice-president of Upazila Chhatra League, Sheikh Mehdi Hasan, who was in charge of the ghat, was beaten up by the gang of BNP and thrown out of the ghat. Later the lessee came to an agreement with BNP leader Kausar Talukdar. Kausar agreed to pay 16% of the total income to the talukdar after debt negotiation. But Kausar talukdar added the condition that his sons would collect the ghat money and the lessee's share would be paid by Kausar himself. Sultan Molla, the lessee, accepted with great desperation.

Sultan Molla said, 'Machghat, Trallerghat, Shimulia Ghat are all in the possession of Kausar Talukdar and his people. We have invested crores of rupees. But they want to take more than 30% from us without investment. They are collecting money from their people. They still haven't paid our share.'

However, Sultan Molla did not agree to say more than this because of the fear of BNP people. He said, 'On August 30, the money is supposed to be distributed. I don't know what they will do that day.'

However, BNP leader Kausar Talukder denied the allegation of encroachment. He said, 'Some students were disturbing the tenants by coming to Polapan Ghat. I sat with the lessee, Mr. UNO. Mr. UNO has asked us to keep an eye on the government lease so that it is not wasted. The issue of money sharing is false. Not only our people but also the lessees are there to collect money. Money is being deposited. How these will be done will be determined later.'

Lauhjong upazila executive officer (UNO) Md. Zakir Hossain said, 'I have not had any such conversation with Kawsar Sahabera. A few days after the fall of the government, Kausar came to me with his people about the Ghat issue. I asked them to talk to the police and BIWTA.'

Last Monday afternoon in Shimulia Ghat area, it was seen on the ground that some people were stopping motorcycles and private cars at the entrance of the parking area of ​​the ghat and collecting money. When we talked to them at that time, they said that they are the people of Kausar Talukdar. They work for a wage of 500 taka per day. Being in charge of collecting parking tolls. Al Amin said, 20 taka per motorcycle, 40 taka per private car. A few days ago Sultan Mulla's people used to withdraw money, now Kawsar Talukdar's people withdraw money, he said.

Talking to various sources, it is known that 30 thousand taka is collected from the parking area every day. Apart from this, there are 15 big food hotels and about 250 small shops selling various products including tea, coffee, children's toys. Among these, 2000 taka per day is being collected from food hotels and 250 taka from small shops. Kumarbhog Union BNP general secretary Anwar Hossain, Kumarbhog Union Chhatra Dal general secretary Sohan Mridha, Chhatra Dal leader Milan Dhali, Ilyas Madbar, Svechsevak Dal leader Anik Hossain and others are in charge of collecting the money. All in all, the people of Kausar Talukdar are taking lakhs of rupees illegally every day.

It is known that Sohag Mridha, a member of Lauhjong Upazila Chhatra Dal, collected money from Machghat. Parvez Khan, the leader of the Volunteers' Party, and Zakir Hossain, the leader of the Workers' Party, occupying the bus stand, are collecting money from Trollerghat. But Sohan Mridha said, 'I went to the ghat one day. Kausar talukdar has given responsibility of the ghat to four people. I am not among them.'

Kumarbhog Union BNP General Secretary Anwar Hossain has admitted to extorting money from their people. President Kausar Talukdar knows how the money will be distributed, this leader said.

On the condition of anonymity, some local BNP leaders and workers said that where the party wants to stay out of all controversies, welcome the students' movement and build a beautiful state system, some BNP leaders like Kausar and Anwar are trying to create that anarchic situation again. . They show their power and collect money by taking over the leased business of the Awami League leader.

Kamruzzaman Ratan, member secretary of Munshiganj district BNP convening committee and social welfare secretary of the party's central committee, said, 'Students have given their blood to build an anti-discrimination country. We also want such a country. Not only Kumarbhog, but everywhere in Munshiganj, legal and organizational action will be taken against those who are doing wrong by defaming the name of the party.'

Source: Prothom Alo

Bangladesh /SBT