Old wounds reopen

Though it has been over 17 years, people of Charmonai union of Barishal have not forgotten the month of October 2001.

Right after the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power, there was a systematic backlash against the Hindu community in the area, who are generally thought to be the “vote bank” of Awami League.

Hindu households were rampaged and their property looted, temples were desecrated and set on fire, they were mentally and physically assaulted, and women were raped.

So, when Jubo Dal leader Bajlu Hawladar, one of the alleged initiators of the 2001 post-polls violence in the area under Sadar upazila, joined the ruling Awami League recently, the minority community was shocked.

Bajlu, the then union Jubo Dal president, was also a prime accused in a rape case filed during that time. The case was later dismissed as the complainant withdrew the case allegedly due to intimidation.

On December 23, 2018, Bajlu joined Awami League by presenting a bouquet of flowers to MP candidate and now State Minister for Water Resources Col (retd) Zaheed Farooque at an electioneering rally. It was held on the union's Bukhainagar school ground.

Syed Anis, district vice president of AL; Moazzem Hossain Chunnu, its publicity secretary; Saidur Rahman Rintu, city unit vice president; Monirul Islam Chhobi, upazila unit president; and other leaders of AL and its front organisations were present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, locals in Rajarchar, a minority-populated area, are apprehensive about Bajlu's joining the ruling party. Many of them, who were tortured and saw atrocities carried out by the BNP-Jamaat cadres, feared that others like Bajlu might eventually join Awami League.

Litu Dutta, secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha-Christian Oikya Parishad's Barishal chapter, said, “I did not expect this from a party like Awami League. How could they allow a person like Bajlu, who instigated communal violence, join the party!”

For farmer Pabitra Kumar Mistri of Rajarchar, terror unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat cadres during the time, especially on the night of October 13, was almost like that by the Pakistan occupation army and their local collaborators in 1971.

“After winning the 2001 election, BNP-Jamaat cadres, led by the then union Jubo Dal president Bajlu Hawladar, attacked Rajarchar area on the night of October 13,” he said.

He said the attackers not only ransacked his house, looted valuables but also violated his wife, daughter and sister.

“I saw Bajlu rape my daughter,” he said. Though his voice was shaky and a little unclear, this correspondent could tell it took him a lot of courage to describe the atrocities that had scarred him forever.

“The incident was reported by local and national newspapers. Law enforcers were, in a way, forced to register a case in this regard,” he said.

Pabitra Kumar filed the case (no 25/2001) with Barishal Kotwali Police Station against Bajlu as the prime accused, and BNP leader Salam Rari. He said a judicial inquiry committee was also formed.

But, Pabitra claimed that Bajlu abducted him and forcibly took his signature on a blank piece of paper. “Later, we were informed that the court had dismissed the case as I had withdrawn it and signed documents in this regard,” he added.

Contacted on Friday, Bajlu denied the allegations against him. “According to police investigation and report, the case was found to be false and fabricated. So, the court dismissed it,” he claimed.

He also claimed that he was accused in the case “as part of a conspiracy by his enemies to tarnish his image”.

“I joined Awami League to work for people,” he said. He also hoped that during formation of the fresh AL committee of the union, he would get an important post.

Monirul Islam Chhobi, AL president of Barishal Sadar upazila, declined to comment over the issue.

When asked, Saidur Rahman Rintu, AL vice president of the city unit, said he is involved with the city unit and does not know that many people of the upazila AL or how it functions.

On the other hand, Nurul Islam Master, AL convener of Charmonai union, said Bajlu's joining the party was initiated by Chhobi. Chhobi also declined to comment on Nurul's claim.

This correspondent also spoke to newly-appointed State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque on the issue. He said he does not know the matter that well. He will visit Barishal next week and look into it, he added.

When this correspondent asked him about Bajlu, the newly-elected lawmaker for Barishal-5 (city and Sadar upazila) constituency, said, “I do not support joining of an accused person.”

“Local union leaders [of AL] hid this matter from me. I will take action once I reach Barishal,” he said. “If the allegations of torturing and raping minority people are found to be true, the case would be revived,” the state minister added.