Barisal market demolished, owners allege political revenge

Barisal City Corporation demolishing a market at Nathullabad in the city yesterday (left) as the affected shop owners crowd the area. PHOTO: STAR

The market was owned by local Awami League leader Aftab Hossain Mridha, also a former Union Parishad chairman.

Mdriha's family members claimed that the market built legally on their paternal land was demolished to take political revenge by ruling party men.

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They said they will go to court to protest the demolition.

Aptab is now under custody in an arms recovery case, lodged with political vengeance, they also alleged.

BCC chief executive officer (CEO) Manir Hossain Mia refuted the claim. The market was built on 89 decimal lands on BCC plot no. 930, he said.

"The market was demolished for recovery of BCC lands from grabbers following a written request from the local elite for development of road and beautification of the area", CEO said.

Harun Mia, an affected shop owner said demolition of the market before the Eid is an inhuman and politically motivated act.

"We prayed for time through local Ward Commissioner Humaun Kabir", he said.

To this, the BCC CEO said, "Eviction notice was duly served by giving sufficient time and no application for extension of time was received". During the eviction, two labourers --Anis and Farukwere injured when a portion of a wall fall on them.