Free passenger shed from illegal occupiers
Free passenger shed from illegal occupiers
Demand locals at rally in Hatibandha of Lalmonirhat
Locals at Milon Bazar of Hatibandha upazila under the district staged demonstration and held a rally yesterday, demanding step to free a shed meant for passengers on Lalmonirhat-Burimari Highway from the occupation of a local Awami League (AL) leader.
Abu Bakkar Siddique Shyamal, Hatibandha upazila unit organising secretary of AL, and his gang occupied the shed on May 28 last year and later they set three shops there, much to the nuisance of passengers, said the demonstrators.
"Earlier we waited under the shed for getting a bus on Lalmonirhat-Burimari road but now we have to stand under the open sky in rain and sun," said Majedul Islam, 50, a resident of Miloin Bazar village.
On behalf of the locals, the chairman and members of Barakhata union parishad (UP) on several occasions submitted written complaints regarding the matter to the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) but no action was taken, sources said.
"I and the UP members tried hard to free the shed, constructed with the UP fund of Tk 4 lakh at Milon Bazar under this union, from the grabbers but it was not possible as Shyamal, who also served as personal assistant to a former state minister, used his political influence," said Abu Hena Mostafa Zaman Sohel, chairman of Barakhata UP.
"Abu Bakkar Siddique Shyamal and his men assaulted me and two other locals as we protested grabbing of the passenger shed," said Rafiqul Islam, member of 9 No ward under the UP.
Contacted, AL leader Abu Bakkari Siddique Shyamal said, "I am not involved with the grabbing of passenger shed at Milon Bazar. I will reply to the UNO if he asks me about it."
Hatibandha UNO Mahbubur Rahman said he will take necessary step to free the shed from the grabbers immediately.