Abul Kashem (left) and Shahed Ahmed Liton (right), photo-collected.
Special correspondent //

Although the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) conducts regular operations to prevent smuggling in the border areas of Jaintapur, Kanaighat, Zakiganj, Gowainghat and Companiganj upazilas of Sylhet district, the smuggling of banned illegal Indian goods cannot be stopped in any way.

This illegal smuggling trade was rampant when the autocratic Awami League government was in power. At that time, Awami League party leaders and activists got involved in these immoral activities. But the path changed when the autocratic Hasina fled to India after facing the onslaught of the student-people’s movement. An interim government was formed under the leadership of Dr. Yunus. Strict surveillance was started to stop immoral activities including transparency, accountability, irregularities-corruption, bribery and other things in all aspects of the country. As part of this, regular operations are also underway in the India-Bangladesh border areas of the entire country. But the smuggling trade has not stopped in any way. Previously, the Awami League’s friends led the border areas of these upazilas, but now some dishonest money-hungry leaders and officials of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP’s affiliated organizations are leading.

Although many of their names have already been published in various national and local dailies and online news portals for being involved in the smuggling trade and collecting donations, for mysterious reasons, the Sylhet district BNP and its central leaders and activists have not been seen taking any appropriate action against them. There is doubt about this. By expelling a handful of people in name only, organizational activities are being continued.

It is alleged that the Awami League government was abusing its power and establishing a reign of terror by launching attacks and cases, and these leaders and officials, smugglers, syndicates, extortionists, are walking on the same path. The border areas of these upazilas are now under their control. Extortion is being carried out in the name of BGB and police. As soon as any factual news is published against them, the courts start running in neighborhoods and neighborhoods. Journalists and newspaper owners have to face threats. If filing a case does not work, then they resort to conspiratorial attacks and torture on journalists. If necessary, they use any state machinery to frame them in a lawsuit. Earlier, the dictator Hasina government had adopted the same path. Because, on the advice of smugglers, they used to trick some law enforcement officials and make them plaintiffs and frame many journalists in drug and ICT cases. The smuggler extortion syndicate is trying to follow the same path. They are involved in all kinds of activities including lobbying and conducting business of senior leaders and activists to expand their party influence and maintain their positions. There have been no exceptions to this recently.

Meanwhile, the most discussed recently are the alleged Jubo Dal leader Abul Hasim of Jaintapur, Jubo Dal leader Abul Kashem of Naljuri area of ​​Gowainghat upazila and Shahed Ahmed Liton alias Babla Liton. There is also Mannan alias Abdul Mannan, a member of Ward No. 3 of East Jaflong Union area. A person named Karim in the area adjacent to Tamabil camp. Bandiz Karim, Lantern Shahid, Arman and Samad in the area adjacent to Rajbari camp of Jaintapur. On the other hand, a person named Masum is leading in Kanaighat upazila. In this way, there are many Raghav Boal smuggling extortion gangs scattered in other upazilas as well. As always, when asked to comment on any of their statements, they denied that they were involved in any such incident. However, this gang is secretly extorting money by defaming the name of BGB-Police along with smuggling. A mountain of news against them is being published regularly in various newspapers, TV channels and online newspapers in the country. For mysterious reasons, they still remain beyond the reach of the law. Although many of their names are on the list of a special intelligence agency, the reality is different.

When contacted on Wednesday night by the much-discussed Jubo Dal leader Abul Kashem on his mobile phone, he told the reporter that there is no question of smuggling or extortion. He said that I am conducting business through export-import and a group is trying to politically humiliate me out of jealousy. When asked to show the export-import documents, he said that he would send them to the reporter on WhatsApp within an hour, but he did not send any documents until Thursday afternoon. When asked about the publication of news against him in several newspapers, he said that a letter has been sent to the concerned officials and journalists of those newspapers through the advocate to show the reason. At that time, the reporter wanted to know whether a copy of the letter could be shown or sent, but he did not give any answer. At one point, he told the reporter that Qayyum Bhai also knows that an attempt is being made to frame me. At that time, he sought the cooperation of journalists and said that Allah is above and there is nothing more to say.

When contacted on the mobile phone of Shahed Ahmed, another close associate of Abul Kashem, he said, I did business before August 5. At that time, Karim and several Awami League leaders and activists of the local area collected extortion in the name of BGB-police, but I never gave them extortion even though I was a BNP activist. At that time, he said, when the former Tamabil camp commander conducted a raid one day and took away 270 bags of Indian sugar from me, I was not involved in this business. When asked whether any case was filed in this incident, he avoided the matter and said, I am not involved in any smuggling or extortion. When asked about Abul Kashem, he said, no one can write anything against him. He is now upset about the fact that he had a heated argument with a top leader from the Haripur area a few days ago. He says that it is not that easy to take his position.