Special Representative //

The cadres of the then ruling party Awami League were stockpiling firearms in Sylhet for almost a year. Basically, these weapons were being stockpiled to increase the power, power and strength of various groups and sub-groups. The Jubo League and Chhatra League cadres bought weapons with money earned from the Indian ‘bungar sugar’ business.

Until now, the issue of buying and stockpiling weapons has been limited to talk and talk, but the people of Sylhet have seen its public form in the anti-discrimination student movement. On July 18 in Akhalia and August 4 at Court Point, Jubo League and Chhatra League cadres openly attacked students with weapons. The people of Sylhet were shocked to see the modern weapons displayed.

Allegedly, among the weapons displayed was an M-16 rifle. Which was seen in the hands of Jubo League leader Shiblu Ahmed, who is known to be close to the then city mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury. Until August 5, these weapons were used to occupy the streets, spread influence and suppress the movement of students, but after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, those cadres with weapons disappeared. They are nowhere to be found.

According to sources, the leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliates were involved in the trade of sugar brought illegally from India through the border for more than a year. Several groups-sub-groups were formed to carry the sugar safely from the border to the city.

In order to dominate this business known as ‘Bungar Sugar’, various groups began to increase their power by buying weapons. Although these weapons have been kept secret from various leaders and cadres for a long time, they came out in the open in the last anti-discrimination student movement. Besides, in the last 15 years, hundreds of leaders and professionals of Awami League and its affiliates have acquired arms licenses. Licensed weapons were also used to quell the student-mob in the agitation.

Sources also said that on July 18, the leaders and activists of the Awami League affiliated organizations attacked the students in alliance with the police in Akhalia area of ​​the city. Meanwhile, the cadres of the then ruling party openly fired their weapons. Later, on August 4, the cadres of Awami League and other organizations held a weapons drill to disperse the students and mobs at the court point of Sylhet city as previously announced. They pounced on the students with weapons.

The police and cadres together chased away the students from the court point. After that, the cadres conducted weapons drills at several other places. On August 4, during a drill at Court Point, the townspeople were shocked to see some sophisticated weapons. A modern firearm is seen in the hand of UK expatriate Jubo League leader Ruhul Amin alias Shiblu Ahmed, who is known as a close friend of former City Mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury. Many are claiming that it is the latest M-16 rifle.

Also, those who were seen openly displaying arms during the agitation included Aftab Hossain Khan, President of Sylhet Metropolitan Volunteer League, Piyush Kanti Dey, Senior Vice-President of District Volunteer League, Sajal Das Anik, former organizing secretary of Metropolitan Chhatra League, Chhatra League cadre Major Ansar Ahmad alias Shooter Ansar. , Chhatra League Cadre Hasan Ahmad, 2nd Ward Jubo League General Secretary Jahed Hossain, Jubo League leader Jontu of Sheikhghat area, Volunteer League Workers Babul Ahmad Pangas, Munim Ahmad, Roni Talukder.

It was found that most of the armed men fled to India. In this case, smugglers of sugar, cattle, buffaloes, drugs and weapons from both countries have helped them to cross the border. Besides, many smugglers in Jainta, Goainghat and Kanighat upazilas have gone from zero to millionaires overnight with their support. Later some reached UK and some reached Dubai via India. Some are staying in different parts of Meghalaya state of India. And those who could not cross the border have left Sylhet and are hiding.

Regarding the recovery of illegal weapons and the arrest of the weapon holders, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Media Officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam said that the work of identifying the identity of the weapon holders by looking at the videos and pictures is going on. Police are also working to find out where the displayed weapons came from or in whose custody they were. Besides, the police are trying to identify the location of the armed men and arrest them.