Only seven years back, Mihir Kanti Biswas was an armed cadre of outlawed Biplobi Communist Party (BCP).
| That's the old Biplobi commies, not the new-fangled variety, mind you... |
He faced at least seven criminal cases including two for murder and three for toll collection, police said.
| "Stick 'em up, comrade! Gimme yer toll!" |
Mihir, now secretary of Magura Sadar upazila BNP, is on the run to evade arrest after joint forces raided his house soon after promulgation of emergency in January, police said.
| "Youse'll never take me alive, coppers!" |
A top police official however said they are hunting for him.
"Go get 'im, Big Mahmoud!"
"Duh, okay, boss!" |
Mihir, a high school dropout, started life in early age as a bicycle mechanic. The family lived in a thatched house at Rawtara village in Hazrapur union in Magura Sadar upazila.
| "Mihir! You can't smoke around that there thatched roof! Put that [FWOOMP!] stogey out." |
The party in power came a magic lamp for Mihir. "Mihir now owns over Tk one crore in cash and property which he has amassed through toll collection and other illegal means", said a former chairman of Hazrapur Union Parishad (UP) seeking anonymity.
| "Hrarrrr! Money! Ain't nobuddy in the upazilla got money like me!" |
Mihir's brother Mrinal, also an alleged outlaw, is now a wealthy businessman, said a resident of adjoining Gouricharanpur village. "As a BCP cadre, he used to collect toll from local rich people at night earlier. When 4-party alliance came to power, he did it openly by virtue of being a front ranking BNP leader", said a school teacher.
"Hi, there! I'm yer local BNP Gauleiter. Gimme yer toll!"
"Uhhh... Okay. Nice shutter gun, by the way." |
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) officials in Magura is also investigating the source of his assets amassed in last five years. "We got some allegations and those were sent to higher authorities for directive", an ACC official said.
Allegations have been made that the outlawed turned BNP party leader amassed wealth by toll collection under the shelter of a former lawmaker from Magura-2 constituency.
"Boss Hogg! That there Mihir feller's been collectin' all my toll!"
"Tut tut, fellow! I'm sure youse're mistaken!" |
On January 25, army cordoned the Bhaina area in Magura town to arrest Mihir. But they mistakenly took into custody district Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal president Nazmul Hasan Liton instead of Mihir.
"Put him down, Big Mahmoud! We got the wrong guy!"
"Duh, hokay, boss! [thud!]" |
Mihir escaped and is on the run since then.
| "Curly-toed phlip-phlops don't fail me now!" |
"Joint forces' hunt for Mihir is on as he is accused in several criminal cases including murder", said Magura Police Superintendent Mohammad Muslim while talking tot this correspondent yesterday. "Earlier, police could not take step against culprits like Mihir due to interference by the then ruling party leaders. After promulgation of emergency, police are now launching drives freely against criminals." |