Jamaat MP defends OC with alleged links with outlaws

The home ministry ordered probe into the charges.

The lawmaker from Jamaat obviously tried to prove by a typed statement that the probe ordered by home ministry against the OC is an "improper step" and will obstruct improvement of the law and order situation and drive by joint forces against outlaws in Dumuria upazila, he told a press conference at the Khulna Press Club on Thursday. It was held under the banner of 'Dumuria Upazila Law and Order Com-mittee'.

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Parwar, elected from Khulna-5 constituency, was accompanied by eleven out of 14 Union Parishad chairmen in Dumuria upazila.

There are allegations that the UP chairmen present in the press conference enjoy blessings of Mrinal Goshai, chief of outlawed New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP).

Mrinal is wanted by police in cases in connection with at least 30 murders and toll collection from over 200 shrimp farms in Dumuria upazila.

It was later learnt from some of the UP chairmen that the notorious NBCP ringleader had a role in election of Parwar.

Mentionably, OC Abu Hena at a public meeting held on April 21 declared that 13 out of 14 UP chairmen in Dumuria had links with Mrinal Goshai.

At the press conference, the Jamaat MP did not reply when asked why he stood behind OC Abu Hena.

Chairman of Maguraghona Union Parishad in Dumuria, Shaikh Abu Hossain, later told this correspondent that they were "forced both by the MP and the OC" to attend the press conference.

When asked on Friday, the Jamaat lawmaker reaffirmed his stand in defending OC Abu Hena, but admitted that it was not wise for him to remain present at the press conference along with the UP chairmen against whom allegations were made publicly that they had links with Mrinal.

When contacted, the Dumuria UNO expressed surprise how the UP chairmen could hold a press conference in Khulna city under the banner of Law and Order Committee without his consent.

The UNO is ex-officio president of the upazila Law and Order Committee.