Jhenaidah Correspondent
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has threatened to intensify its movement over alleged corruption and irregularities in BCIC fertiliser dealership appointments in Jhenaidah, accusing those involved of favouritism, political nepotism and appointing ineligible candidates. The party also protested extortion and increases in electricity and fuel prices.
At a press conference at the district Jamaat office on Thursday morning, Jhenaidah district ameer and Jhenaidah-2 MP Ali Azam Md Abu Bakar read out a written statement detailing the allegations.
District secretary Abdul Awal, Jhenaidah-4 MP Abu Taleb, Jhenaidah-3 MP Md Matiar Rahman and other district and upazila leaders attended the event.
The statement alleged that dealerships across the district had been allocated without properly assessing applicants’ qualifications, business experience or financial capacity. Instead, the party claimed, political connections, nepotism and illegal financial transactions had favoured relatives of BNP leaders, an Awami League leader, MPO-listed teachers, a BCS cadre officer’s mother and a domestic worker.
In Kaliganj, the statement alleged, relatives of district BNP president MA Majid received dealerships in Shimla-Rokonpur and Trilochanpur unions. In Maheshpur, Ehsan Reza, a relative of district BNP general secretary Jahiduzzaman Mona, and MPO-listed madrasa teacher Jabed Iqbal were allegedly appointed dealers in Shyamkur and Azampur unions, respectively.
In Harinakundu, the party alleged that Anwar Nasrin, wife of BNP district senior vice-president Anis and mother of BCS cadre officer Shamima Nazrin, received a dealership in Daulatpur Union. Abdul Latif, brother of the district BNP president, and other BNP leaders and their relatives were also allegedly awarded dealerships in different unions.
In Sadar upazila, the statement alleged that Awami League leader Shoebur Rahman received a dealership despite lacking a warehouse and sufficient financial capacity. A domestic worker of the district BNP president was allegedly appointed dealer in Sadhuhati Union. Other appointments were also questioned over alleged links to banned Chhatra League and local BNP leaders.
The press conference also raised allegations of irregularities in government primary school teacher transfers, including payments for transfer decisions.
Jamaat leaders claimed that at least eight party activists were injured in attacks in Shailkupa and Harinakundu on September 16. They also alleged extortion from easy-bike and other vehicle operators on highways, including the Jhenaidah-Chuadanga road at the 18-Mile point.
The party further alleged discrimination in district council recruitment, claiming that relatives of officials had been appointed instead of family members of those killed in the uprising.
Jamaat demanded a review of fertiliser dealership appointments, cancellation of those secured illegally and dissolution of the disputed fertiliser and seed monitoring and dealership selection committee. It also called for an end to extortion, tender manipulation and political interference in teacher transfers, alongside reductions in fertiliser, oil, gas and electricity prices. #EK