With alleged backing of the then lawmaker from Magura-2 constituency, Ali Ahmed, once a 'regional leader' of outlawed Sarbahara Party, amassed wealth through illegal means but remained out of law enforcers' dragnet despite having at least 16 cases against him.

Ali Ahmed is being tried by the Special Trial Tribunal- 7 in Dhaka. He was arrested from Milkvita factory on February 12 in connection with a case filed with Shah Ali police station in Mirpur in Dhaka.

Ali raised the infamous 'Ali Bahini' and managed to secure the post of Magura district BNP secretary. He also became chairman of Raghobdair Union Parishad (UP) in 2004 by allegedly using musclemen.

Allegations have it that the 'Ali Bahini' created a reign of terror in the area during the four-party alliance rule.

Most of the party leaders now disown Ali Ahmed and demand his punishment for alleged crimes and corruption. They also blame the former lawmaker for patronising Ali.

The party men had brought out processions against the then lawmaker and his cohort Ali during the fag end of the four-party alliance government.

The 16 cases against Ali are for murder, kidnapping for ransom, toll collection and arms looting from police, filed with different police stations in Magura, Jhenidah and Faridpur district.

He was arrested by joint forces along with a foreign pistol by from a garments factory in Dhaka in February. He is now in Dhaka Ccentral Jail, police sources here said.

Ali was also arrested in 2002 during the army-led 'operation clean heart' and a shutter-gun was recovered from his possession, police said.

"The then lawmaker inducted terrorists in the party and placed Ali in a top position in the district committee. When they fell apart, the lawmaker as supreme leader of the district committee, took initiative to dissolve the committee", said a front ranking leader seeking anonymity.

The former lawmaker did not visit Magura since proclamation of emergency. This correspondent repeatedly tried to contact him over cell phone but it was found switched off.

Local BNP sources claimed that Ali's three younger brothers who led the 'Ali Bahini', now possess illegal arms of the cadres.

They formed a syndicate styled 'negotiation committee' and amassed huge money by tender manipulation. They virtually distributed works for development projects among their chosen contractors.

"We had no entry to Magura LGED office to buy or drop any tender schedule without permission of the syndicate", a contractor told this correspondent.

A BNP leader seeking anonymity claimed that Ali and his family members amassed at least Tk seven crore assets in cash and other property. He demanded investigation of their assets.

Ali owns a house at Mirpur in Dhaka, six trucks, a car, eight motorbikes and a huge land property, the BNP leader claimed.

"The party high command finally realised that Ali's activities tarnished the image of the party and dissolved the district committee in October last year following demands by leaders and activists", said Akter Hossain, joint-convener of district BNP.

"Ali is an identified criminal and was arrested during 'operation clean heart' when our party was in power. He should be expelled from the party and tried for crimes and amassing wealth illegally", said former secretary of district BNP advocate Ahmed Hossain.

According to intelligence sources and police records, Ali Ahmed joined the underground outfit Gana Bahini in aearly 1990s. After procuring illegal arms, he joined Sarbahara Party and became its 'regional leader'.