People of Rupganj have brought several allegations of crimes, including arms and drug trade, terrorism, murder and land grabbing, against Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi.
According to locals, the severity of oppression, harassment, and land grabbing by the minister has reached unprecedented heights. It is no longer just Rupganj (Narayanganj); it seems as if “Gaziganj” has taken its place in the wake of such malpractices.
Also, allegations resembling a scene of murder and disappearance, involving land encroachment and coercive forces, are emerging against him.
An investigation by Daily Sun reveals that large tracts of arable land belonging to common innocent people have been sold by the Gazi gang to various companies after putting up the signboard of Gazi Stadium and filling it with sand.
In some places, various factories of Gazi Group have been built by occupying arable land and residential areas.
Industrial establishments, housing projects and many other entities have been constructed. Many Muslim and minority families had to leave the area due to his gang’s torture.
The leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League were also not spared from their assault.
The investigation says hundreds of Hindu families live in the areas of Kearia, Parshi, Bariyachhani, Kumarpara of Rupganj.
The land of 80% of the Hindu people there is filled with sand with a boundary wall by land grabber Iman Hasan Khokon, son of Iman Ali of Baghber City Market area who is in charge of the management of G Park.
Gazi Tire Factory was built by occupying a large area in the Khadun area of Rupganj while about 80% of the factory’s land has been forcibly occupied.
Local sources said Golam Dastgir Gazi and his son Pappa have taken over about 1,500 bighas of Hindu-Muslim-owned land and Khas land in different areas, including Birab, Kanchan, Valukab, Tengrartek, Ponab, Amlab, Kesrab, Adhuria and Purbagram, in the upazila misusing the power.
Financed by govt but Gazi in the name
Almost every educational institution in Rupganj has built an auditorium with government funding but it has been named after the minister and his family members.
Not only the educational institutions but also the bridge built at the cost of hundreds of crores of takas has been named Gazi Setu while road as Gazi Road, culvert as Gazi Culvert, school as Bir Pratik Gazi High School, Muktijoddha Chatwar in Purbachal suburb as Gazi Chatter, Nyangta shrine area as Gazi Avenue and a stadium as Gazi Stadium in various places.
Within the family of Gazi, the father holds the position of minister and serves as the president of the upazila Awami League, while the son assumes the role of senior vice-president. Meanwhile, the mother takes on the dual responsibilities of being the president of the upazila Women’s Awami League and the mayor of the municipality.
Gazi’s ‘terrorist’ forces
According to the investigation, Gazi’s terrorist gang includes Shaheen alias Loha Shaheen, son of Mozammel of Kaladi village. He is known by his name for terrorist activities and Yaba business.
Rupganj police station has two cases against him. Anisur Rahman Khokon, son of Alfaj of the same village, has two cases in Rupganj police station due to terrorist activities.
There is a case against him for terrorist activities. Rakib alias Gui Rakib, son of Shamsul Haque of the same village, faces four cases and one general diary against him.
Another terrorist of Masimpur is Hamid, son of Lal Mia. There is also one case against him.
Rupganj police station has five cases against Abdul Latif’s son Motiur of the Kenduatek area. There are many charges against him for terrorist activities and drug dealing.
Shamser Ali Khan alias Daku Shamser is Gazi’s top terrorist in the much-discussed Chonpara Slum. Hasmat Ali alias Hasmat Dayal’s son Daku Shamser has no end of complaints.
There are many charges against him, including drug and arms trade, kidnapping, murder and robbery.
Rupganj police station has 15 cases. Rafiq’s son Shahabuddin is among other terrorist forces of Minister Gazi in the area.
There is a case against him at Rupganj police station. Apart from this, there is a huge terrorist force under the leadership of Daku Shamser.
Rupganj upazila Awami League Information and Research Secretary Mohammad Kamal Hossain Kamal told the Daily Sun, “Many leaders and activists have been victims of many assault cases in these 15 years. Today, even though I’m a member of Awami League, I have been implicated in a false case.”
Mohammad Altaf Hossain, former general secretary of Tarabo municipality Jubo League, said, “Following Golam Dastagir Gazi’s election as MP in 2008, the distinction between former members and genuine members of Awami League vanished. Presently, the residents of Rupganj are grappling with the trauma inflicted by their tortures.”
BDST: 1553 HRS, JAN 02, 2024
