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Dhaka, 01 August 2025, Friday:
A press conference was held in Dhaka on the allegations of extortion, encroachment and drug syndicates by a group of individuals using the names of BNP, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, Sramik Dal and Swechhasebak Dal in various places in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna since the fall of the Awami League government.
The press conference was held at 11:00am on Friday, 01 August, 2025, at the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) auditorium located at Dhaka Reporters Unity in Segunbagicha in the capital. Jubo Dal organizer of Ishwardi Upazila and former Chhatra Dal leader of Ishwardi Government College Md. Jubayer Hossain Bappy read a written statement in it.
In the written statement, Bappy said, “In Pabna’s Ishwardi, former general secretary of Ishwardi Municipality BNP Zakaria Pintu, his brother Mehedi Hasan, former member secretary of Ishwardi Upazila Swechhasebak Dal, and former president of Upazila BNP Shamsuddin Ahmed Malitha Gong are trying to establish a reign of terror in Ishwardi Upazila and its surrounding areas by defaming the name of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Although they have been expelled from the party for these incidents, their reckless activities have not stopped. These terrorists, who have been expelled from the party for defaming the name of BNP, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, Sramik Dal, and Volunteer Party, have established extortion, land grabbing, and drug syndicates in various places in Ishwardi Upazila. They have been involved in extortion, land grabbing, and drug syndicates by using cadre forces to seize government Khas land, private land, and mosque land, collecting extortion more than the government-set amount in ten places in the municipal area by taking a lease of one place, attempting to forcibly occupy Balumahal, and firing bullets in broad daylight, along with various other terrorist activities.”
He further said, “Because of this cadre force, many villagers in Ishwardi upazila have become homeless and helpless. There is a total of 67 cases against Zakaria Pintu and his brother Mehedi, including 16 murder cases, kidnapping, rape, explosives Act, weapons, robbery, terrorist attacks and extortion cases. Most of the murder cases against these terrorists, including the murder of their own brother and for the murder of BNP leaders and activists. Most of these cases are registered at Ishwardi and Lalpur police stations in Pabna. Also, since August 5, last year, despite Pintu and Mehedi’s recklessness, the victims are unable to submit numerous complaints of extortion, vandalism and land grabbing to the law enforcement agencies under pressure from the Shamsuddin Malitha gang.”
Bappy claims that around 10-12 people attacked his house with local and foreign weapons on the morning of July 19 because he was protesting against these activities. They also threatened to kill him. Unable to get legal help locally in these incidents, he sought his own safety by drawing the attention of the administration through a press conference.
The press conference was attended by Dashuria Union BNP President Abdus Samad Sulav Malitha, Dashuria Union BNP Acting Secretary Nazmul Hossain Mukul, Ishwardi Upazila Tati Dal General Secretary Parvez Ahmed Palash, Dashuria Union BNP Deputy General Secretary Ajmal Hossain, Dashuria Union Jubo Dal Convener Saiful Islam, Dashuria Union Jubo Dal Member Secretary Bipul Hossain Molla, Dashuria Union Swechhasebak Dal General Secretary Rakibul Islam Lucky, Dashuria Union Jubo Dal Joint Convener Dulal Mondal, Dashuria Union Krishak Dal Convener Md. Mohidul Islam, Dashuria Union Krishak Dal Member Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam Shahid Mondal, Ishwardi Upazila Jubo Dal Joint Convener Md. Hedayetul Islam Anik, Ishwardi Upazila Jubo Dal activist Shamsujjoha Tuhin, Ishwardi Upazila Jubo Dal Persecuted activist Reshim, Ishwardi Municipal Jubo Dal leader Ratan Hossain, Municipal Chhatra Dal leader Rafi Hossain, Municipal Swechhasebak Dal member Ashiq Hossain, former Ishwardi Government College branch Chhatra Dal president Rafiqul Islam, former senior vice president Nasir Hossain, Pabna District Chhatra Dal member Samrat Hossain and Ishwardi Government College branch Chhatra Dal member Khaled Bin Parthib, among others.