Manikganj AL leaders want dist BCL chief, secy to go

Leaders of Awami League and its front organisations in the district have demanded removal of the district unit president and the general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for their alleged involvement in different crimes including extortion, and anti-organisational activities.

Citing different allegations against Manikganj BCL president Sadikul Islam and its general secretary Enamul Haque Rubel, the district AL leaders sent a letter to party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the party's central Organisational Secretary Ahmed Hossain, also in charge to look after Manikganj AL.

Lawmaker from Manikganj-3 constituency and State Minister of health Jahid Maleque Swapan, Manikganj district unit AL President Golam Mohiuddin and its General Secretary Abdus Salam, Manikganj municipality Mayor Md Ramzan Ali, Manikganj district sports association Secretary and former youth and sports affairs secretary of Manikganj district AL AFM Sultanul Azam Khan Apel, Manikganj district Jubo League President Sudeb Saha, Manikganj district unit Sramik League President Babul Sarker, BCL Manikganj unit former presidents Abu Bakar Siddik Khan Tusher and Rafikul Islam Chowdhury Rana, and its former secretary Mahabubul Haque Khan put signatures on the allegation letter.

A signed copy of the letter was sent to Manikganj Press Club yesterday afternoon.

They alleged that Sadikul Islam and Enamul Haque Rubel took large quantities of panjabis, pants, and shirts from at least 40 shops in Manikganj town on the eve of Eid. The shop owners informed it to top level leaders of AL and its front organisation including lawmaker from Manikganj-3 constituency and State Minister Jahid Maleque Swapan.

"The two BCL leaders took huge money from hotels, clinics and business houses of Manikganj district town and different areas of the seven upazilas. They took money for inclusion of names in different committees of BCL," goes the allegation letter signed by the Manikganj AL leaders.

"Earlier they broke stage of a solo song function of Bari Siddiki at Bewtha, assaulted Principal of Government Devendra College Dr Syed Mohammad Iqbal Moyees and teachers of Manikganj Government Girls' School. They also beat up government officials of Manikganj DC office during tender dropping," it said. 

Contacted, Manikganj district unit BCL president Sadikul Islam and general secretary Enamul Haque Rubel claimed that the allegations brought against them area not true.

Meanwhile, BCL men brought out a procession in Manikganj district town on Friday night demanding removal of the president and the general secretary of the BCL district committee.

The BCL committee was formed through selection at a council on November 30 last year.

The Daily Star published reports regarding malpractices of a few district unit BCL leaders on different occasions.