Jamaat lawmaker’s sons 'occupy' water body

"They are now threatening us to withdraw the case", said Abdur Rashid, Anulia union Jamaat secretary and a member of Eksara Jubo Samabaya Samitty, which leased the water body from the authorities.

Among others, former secretary of Assassuni upazila Islami Chhatra Shibir Nure Alam, Jamaat activist Ziaur Rahman, Pratapnagar union BNP vice-president Abu Yahiya also spoke at the press conference, held at Satkhira Reporters Club.

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They said they feel insecure as the two sons of the lawmaker are threatening them with "dire consequences".

They also sought intervention by the prime minister's office so that they can get back the water body.

In his written statement, Abdur Rashid said members of Eksara Jubo Samabaya Samitty had been cultivating shrimps in Pratapnagar Garuikhali Jalmahal ( water body) in Assassuni upazila for five years, leasing it from the Upazila Jubo Unnayan Adhidaptar ( youth department).

Local Jamaat leader Zulfiqar Ali, son of Jamaat lawmaker Riasat Ali, tried to occupy the water body in December last year but his attempt was foiled.

At this, the lawmaker Riasat Ali submitted a written application to higher authorities to cancel the lease order, he said.

Knowing this, the lessees filed a case with a court in Satkhira on February 5. After hearing, the court ordered statues quo and fixed July 3 for the next hearing, Abdur Rashid added.

Thereafter, violating the court order, Assassuni Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and chairman of Upazila Jalmahal Ejara Committee Khan Nurul Amin cancelled the lease on May 10, he said.

"On the following day (May 11), a group of miscreants numbering 70 to 80 led by local Jamaat leaders' sons Nurul Afsar and Zulfiqar Ali swooped on the shrimp enclosure, beat the staff and looted shrimps worth Tk 12 lakh", he alleged.

Later, the lawmaker's sons unofficially leased the water body to one Abdul Kader at Tk 50,000, he said.

After the attack, the victims went to Assassuni thana to file a case but Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Matin declined to record it.

A case was then filed with a magistrate court at Satkhira on May 16 accusing 26 people including the two sons of the Jamaat lawmaker, Abdur Rashid said.

The victims also filed a defamation case with the same court against Assassuni UNO Khan Nurul Amin for canceling the lease violating the court order, he said.

The lawmaker's sons are threatening members of Eksara Jubo Samabaya Samitty with dire consequences if they do not withdraw the case, he alleged.

On contact, Assassuni UNO Khan Nurul Amin said he cancelled the lease as per law.

Nurul Afsar, when contacted, said the allegation of occupying the water body is not correct. Local people have taken its possession to cultivate fish, he said.

"I did not threat anybody", he said.