Party in power was a magic lamp for VDP member Salam
Arrested Khagrachhari Jubo Dal leader faces several cases for land grabbing, murder and other crimes
Mohammad Abdus Salam
The party in power came as a magic lamp for once VDP (Village Defense Party) member Mohammad Abdus Salam. By virtue of being a close aide to BNP leader Wadud Bhuiyan, he became president of Khagrachhari district Jubo Dal, which opened up the scope for him to amass wealth and establish supremacy in the district during the rule of BNP-Jamaat government. Besides being known as an alleged land grabber, he also faces allegations of torturing political opponents and involvement in murder. His arrest is now a talk of the town. Salam was arrested on September 6 from a house of his relative at Tabalchhari in Rangamati. Police brought him to Khagrachhari and produced him before court, which sent him to jail. He was on the run after arrest of former BNP lawmaker Wadud Bhuiyan on February 4. Officer In-Charge (OC) of Khagachhari police station Kazi Helal Uddin said Salam faces eight cases filed with the Sadar police station alone. Many other victims are preparing to file cases against him and his cadres, he said. Abdus Salam owns three luxurious houses worth about Tk 4 crore at Molla Para (beside hospital gate in Khagrachhari town), Shantinagar and Bangalkathi in Sadar upazila, over 180-acre orchards at Vuyachhari, Alutila, Panchhari and Dighinala in the district and some 12 plots for shops. Four of the plots are at Arambug, two at Bazar in Sadar upazila, two at Boalkhali in Dighinala, two at Barnal and two at Guimara in Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari district, according to police and intelligence sources. Some of the 12 plots are in the name of his wife Nilufar Yasmin and brother-in-law. The sources claimed that Salam's Molla Para house encroaches government land, Shabdamia Para house was built by grabbing his cousin's land and the Santinagar house partly occupies land of a local journalist. Talking to this correspondent, an official of Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital seeking anonymity demanded judicial inquiry into the alleged corruption and land grabbing by the Juba Dal leader. Journalist Nurul Azam, whose land was grabbed in Santinagar, told this correspondent that he was preparing to file a case against Salam and demanded probe into his assets. During five years of BNP-Jamaat rule, Salam was untouched though there were allegations of corruption, tender manipulation, murder, terrorising others and other crimes. Zarina Akter, daughter of local Awami League leader Nurul Islam, alleged that Salam was involved in the murder of her father on November 9 last year at the fag end of BNP_Jamaat rule. She filed a murder case with Khagrachhari Sadar police station on November 21 last year. She also alleged that Salam's name was dropped from the charge sheet due to political influence. Talking to this correspondent, she demanded fresh investigation of the murder. Kamrun Nahar Panna, daughter of Abul Kashem, filed a case on February 17 alleging that Salam and his cadres ransacked and looted their house at Shalbagun on October 4 2001, days after BNP-Jamaat came to power. Khagrachhari Chhatra Leauge leader Iqbal Bahar was attacked and injured allegedly by Salam and his men on August 6 last year. Iqbal's mother Nur Bahar filed a case on August 8 naming Salam as the prime accused. Contractor Nurunnabi filed a case against Salam and his cadres with Khagrachhari Sadar police station on February 16 for attacking and seriously injuring him and snatching Tk 282,000 in the town on January 23, 2002. Khagrachhari district Awami League secretary Zahedul Alam filed a case on March 29 last year accusing Salam and his men for damaging his house and looting ornaments and furniture earlier. Talking to this correspondent Alam claimed that Salam was present during the attack but his name was dropped from the charge sheet. Salam along with some Chhatra Dal activists also faces another case filed on August 6 last year for an attack on some Chhatra Leauge activists at Khagrachhari College a day before. Naderuzzaman of Kalabagun area in the town filed a land grabbing case against Salam on May 19. In the case he alleged that Salam grabbed 10 decimal of his land in the town.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments