Perpetrators, protectors and the patrons
The 17 January verdict of the trial court on the Narayanganj seven murder case has been applauded by all quarters. Included among them is the chief justice, jurists, influential ministers, leaders of political parties, and family members and colleagues of the victims. Those close to the government lost no time in claiming that this was a vindication of the independence of judiciary and the rule of law. Others were a bit circumspect. They viewed the judgment as an exception (admittedly, refreshing) to an otherwise gloomy environment that pervades the criminal justice system of the country.
Understandably, the public is outraged at the involvement of a good number of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members in this contract killing. The leadership of RAB subsequently acknowledged that misdeeds of a section of its functionaries "has tarnished the image" of the agency. Its director general vowed that "If anyone in the force commits any offence going beyond his mandate, he will not be spared" and those members would face trial under the law. Such soul searching is necessary and reassuring for the masses, who are generally in the receiving end of the transgressions of what has been officially termed as 'the wayward members' of the security force.
Public scrutiny is essential for the improvement of the performance and ensuring discipline of the security agencies and those should be taken in due stride. Likewise, it is incumbent on the discerning observers not to restrict their focus only on acts of those forces. After all, the errant members were only the facilitators of Nur Hossain's final act of liquidating his political rival, Nazrul Islam. Hence, there is a strong case to dig deep to identify the roots of power that the chief perpetrator, Nur Hossain, commanded.
Nur Hossain is not a phenomenon who mustered influence and power by wielding a Satan gifted magic wand. He is a person of humble background. He masterfully fulfilled his unceasing ambitions by building up rapport with the powerful and the mighty of the society and by establishing effective contact with leading political parties. The latter showered him with protection and patronage and looked the other way when Nur engaged in a plethora of unlawful activities.
Local residents of Narayanganj and other sources inform that Nur began his career as an assistant to a lorry driver. It is alleged that he was connected with General Ershad's Jatiya party before joining the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1992 at the prodding of his then mentor Giasuddin who subsequently became a member of the parliament. Shrewd Nur soon got elevated to the position of Chairperson of the Shiddhirganj Union Council. That was the beginning of his meteoric rise. He quickly learnt that political power comes in handy to enhance fortune. His stint with the BNP ended when Awami League came into power in 1996. Under the new dispensation Nur successfully secured the patronage of a locally influential politician. Buoyed by the relationship with his enigmatic new protector he began consolidating his authority over Siddhirganj area. Nur was elected as president of the Bangladesh truck drivers' association. With this new patron's blessings he continued to engage in a series of criminal acts. Included among them were sand extraction from an illegally occupied section of the Shitalakkhya river bank, trading in illegal intoxicants, and engaging in extortion in public transport sector.
Defeat of the Awami League in the general elections in October, 2001 led to the weakening of Nur's authority over his area. As a listed criminal he could not live in his own locality between the years 2001 to 2008. The illegal business of lifting sand from Shitalakkhya river was brought to a halt during 2008 eviction drive. It was at that time the Interpol issued a red alert for his arrest. Nur only returned to his locality after the December 2008 general elections. Again under his mentor's protection and using his name Nur resumed his shady activities and was reported to have occupied pavements in Narayanganj city and in Simrail in 2013 and illegally built ticket counters and passenger sheds.
Subsequently Nur got elected as counselor of Ward 4 Narayanganj City Corporation. This position provided him with unbridled opportunity to enhance his fortune and he made best use of it. People of his locality alleged that Nur Hossain and his associates controlled extortion rackets that exists in the transport sector between Kanchpur bridge and Shimrail intersection. Deeply aggrieved by such activities the Secretary of Dhaka Transport Association registered complaints with police and RAB against Nur and his associates and the owners and pullers of the battery operated rickshaws organised rallies in the Shahid Minar of Chashhara.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) sources inform that Nur was able to reestablish his business in illegal sand lifting in the banks of Shitalakkhya river after 2014. The BIWTA source further informs that the unlawful business was resumed despite filing a case against Nur Hossain as the principal accused by Naryanganj Port Authority for violating a High Court order against land grabbing. The port authority lodged charges of impeding government action, issuing threats against state functionaries and for illegally taking in possession 0.8 acre of land against the accused. It has also been contended that in collusion with a section of local administration during the past year Nur Hossain controlled Narayanganj truck terminal is being used as a place for gambling, drinking, indecent stage shows and other anti social activities fetching tens of thousands of taka each day. They continued their operation ignoring instructions of the chief executive of the Narayanganj City Corporation.
Nur's aspiration to become the panel mayor was thwarted by his political rival, Nazrul Islam. In the game of thrones, driven by vengeance, Nur decided to eliminate him. Consequently, the long arm of the law caught up with the defiant delinquent Nur.
While the families of the victims await the final outcome of the appeals of Nur Hossain and his associates, while people strive to regain their trust on the lower judicial system, while RAB leadership engages in introspection, time has also come for the political leadership to reflect on their role in nurturing, protecting and patronising the convicted criminal. This they owe it to the people who want rule of law prevail in the land.
The writer teaches International Relations at the University of Dhaka.
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