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| Bangladesh | ||||
| PM issues cheques, MPŽs men take away | ||||
| 2009-04-18 | ||||
| [Bangla Daily Star] The local Awami League (AL) lawmaker's men in Bagmara upazila have allegedly taken away cheques worth Tk 19 lakh granted by the prime minister for the victims of the cruelties committed by Bangla Bhai-led vigilante gangs. They are now pressing the recipients to hand them the rest two of the 21 Tk 1 lakh cheques distributed on Wednesday. The victims said they have been threatened not to speak to the media about the matter. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Adviser HT Imam distributed the cheques among those who had suffered at the hands of Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) cadres in 2004 and 2005. During the cheque-giving ceremony at Bhwaniganj School playground, the prime minister held a teleconference with Bagmara residents. She said her government would ensure justice for those who fell prey to executed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and his henchmen. After the meeting, some local AL leaders including upazila AL General Secretary Zakirul Islam Santu, Mougachhi Union AL General Secretary Abdur Razzak Mollah and upazila Jubo League President Abdus Salam asked the recipients to meet them with the cheques at Enamul Haque's cold storage the next morning. Ataur Rahman, a torture victim, said after he and Parijan Bibi went there, MP Enamul told them to do as Salam asks. Parijan was given the cheque for his husband Rafiqul who was tortured by Bangla Bhai but is now behind bars for suspected links to Purbo Banglar Communist Party. Salam took the two to a room and asked to give him the cheques. "He said, 'As our MP had to spend time and money to have the funds approved, you should share the grants with us. After cashing the cheque, we will keep Tk 50,000 and you'll have the rest'," Ataur continued.
"He and Razzak however contacted us again and said they would never let us convert the cheques."
Unlike Ataur and Parijan, the 19 other victims had to give in to the pressure of the MP's associates. "Had our MP not tried, you would never get any money. He will try for more donations for you in future. So, you better split the amount with us," Manik, another JMJB victim, quoted Salam as telling him. "Salam had us put our signatures on the cheques, and promised to give us each Tk 50,000," Manik added. Abdul Gafur of Jhikra, Asir Uddin of Khalimpara and Anisur Rahman of Chhoto Madhaimuri--everyone's story is much the same. Talking to The Daily Star last night,
The MP said at least 24 cheques, each worth Tk 1 lakh, have been issued for the JMJB victims in Bagmara. Three were yet to be distributed as identity of the claimants could not be confirmed. Asked if he knows that the cheques were indeed taken away from the recipients after they went to his cold storage, he said he would look into it. "I asked my men to arrange for the victims to gather at my place so they can be photographed and shown to the prime minister," he added. "Most people in our area are illiterate. They don't know how to open a bank account and cash cheques. So I asked my men to help them Enamul said some quarters are out to make an issue of the matter. Abdus Salam too dismissed the allegations as baseless.
He added that there are at least 600 JMJB victims in Bagmara. As only 21 have received aid from the PM's fund, many feel aggrieved. "Maybe some of them are spreading this sort of falsehood." | ||||
| Posted by:Fred |