| Submit your comments on this article |
| Bangladesh |
| Jamaat-Shibir runs on smuggling money |
| 2014-01-16 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] On a foggy winter morning of January 2 this correspondent slung a pretty big rucksack on his back and set off for Kansat from Chapainawabganj city in a hired auto-rickshaw. It was a one and a half hours of journey to Kansat. Noticing a big luggage the driver of the rickshaw inquisitively asked me if I wanted to go to the other side of the border meaning India. The young lanky driver got a negative reply but did not give in as he could not think of a person who could venture out to visit a place at a time when political unrest and violence gripped the area. Moreover, the big luggage grew more suspicion in him. Habibullah, the auto-rickshaw driver, insisted that he could arrange everything for this correspondent so that he could safely go to the other side of the border. Eventually I had to give in in fear of being exposed that I was a journalists. He pulled over at Shyampur Bazar and took me to a two-storey building nestled just next to the bazar. Out came a man in his 30s with a suntanned face. His confident demeanour bears the testimony of his all-round skill. His name is Fazlu who gave a scary picture of the area saying that the border was under tight security and if I wanted to cross it I had to pay not less than Tk2, 500. Somehow I managed to say goodbye to him saying that being a student I did not have that much money. Later I came to know that a large section of people in the area are involved in illegal border-trespassing and smuggling. Contacted, Abdur Razzak, Inspector (investigation) of Shibganj cop shoppe, said people of the area are mainly engaged in mango farming during the summer season but at other times they either idle away their times or are involved in illegal trans-border business. "You never find anyone involved in clash or violence during the mango season but it is something different at other times. People in the bordering area are so impoverished that they do everything even for a piece of chapatti and a plate of lentil. "We have locked away Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up! some people and seized several vehicles used in drug smuggling," Inspector Razzak continued pointing to some trucks and vehicles on cop shoppe premises that were seized during smuggling. What was most surprising to this correspondent was that Modasser Ali, a Jamaat leader, Golam Azam, secretary general of Upazila Jamaat unit and Kibria operate a smuggling racket in the area, said police and locals in return for anonymity. They smuggle Phensydle, hemp and others Indian items into the country, they said. About the funding of Jamaat-Shibir Abdur Razzak said members of the Islamist outfit mainly collect money from drug smuggling to run their political activities in the area. Contacted Modasser said he used to operate a mobile cell phone shop at Shibganj Bazar and during that time he brought best quality items from India. "I have a trade license. The ruling party men vandalised my shop and since then it has remained closed." In the course of conversation Modasser denied being involved in smuggling. However, alcohol has never solved anybody's problems. But then, neither has milk... people in the area said Modasser provide fund to Jamaat-Shibir to operate their political activities. When asked, Modasser said he did not need to finance anybody. "People love me and they follow my instruction." Almost similar reply came from Azam, another Jamaat leaders, who said they mainly cultivate mango and tomato. They have no time to smuggle things into the country. AKM Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shibganj cop shoppe, said that smuggling was not a new trend in the area. "We are working on it and a number of illegal shipment has already been recovered in a couple of months. Rab-5 Lieutenant Colonel Anwar Latif Khan of Shibganj said members of the elite force are active and a large quantity of drugs had been seized in recent drives. |
| Posted by:Fred |