Princh Mondal Olif, Bagerhat District Correspondent:
More than a thousand local residents staged a protest and rally in Bagerhat's Rampal upazila on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Al-Amin, president of the Bhetkati Union unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), over allegations of extortion, illegal occupation of fish enclosures, looting and harassment.
The protest was held at around 11:00 am in front of Betkata Secondary School in Bhetkati Union.
Protesters alleged that since August 5, 2024, Al-Amin and his followers had been involved in extortion, grabbing fish enclosures, looting, physical assaults and other acts of intimidation in the area. They claimed that such activities had forced several families to leave their homes. Some victims also alleged that local Hindu women had not been spared from the alleged harassment.
According to the protesters, people seeking to operate or take control of fish enclosures in the area were required to pay money to Al-Amin. Those refusing to pay allegedly faced intimidation, harassment and physical abuse.
The demonstrators demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations, the return of occupied fish enclosures to their rightful owners, exemplary punishment for those found responsible and Al-Amin's resignation from the post of Bhetkati Union BNP president.
They also called for urgent intervention by local State Minister Lion Dr Faridul Islam to address the situation.
Several local BNP leaders attending the rally also expressed dissatisfaction with Al-Amin's alleged activities. They claimed that the allegations against him were damaging the party's image and that several families had suffered severe financial losses.
The protesters further alleged that Al-Amin had a group of followers involved in extortion and creating disorder in the locality. They said that a person facing such allegations should not remain in a leadership position within the party.
Victims also rejected allegations reportedly made by Al-Amin against Enamul Haque Prince, Farid Sardar, Al-Amin Fakir, Khokon Sheikh, Mati Sardar and Saiful Sheikh over fish enclosure grabbing and fish looting. They claimed that the allegations were untrue and alleged that Al-Amin had made counter-allegations to journalists to divert attention from accusations against himself.
More than a thousand people, including alleged victims, took part in the protest and rally.
Attempts were made to contact Al-Amin for his response to the allegations, but his comments could not be obtained.
News Published By:
Bangladesh Diary
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