Jamuka scrutiny body suspends activities over list dispute

The situation appeared after an amended circular the ministry recently issued on the list did not replace wartime commander Gazi Sohrab Hossain by Gazi Sheikh Md Alauddin, a local representative of the ministry, while district unit Awami League's vice-prsident AKM Hossain Ali by Gazi Ashraful Islam Chowdhury alias Jaglu, a member of district unit Jamuka. Jamuka's upazila unit scrutiny committee started its work at upazila nirbahi office in the morning, but stopped doing so after chaos erupted since after many freedom fighters learnt that the names were not changed on the circular, said sources. At one stage, some of them became agitated, waging demonstration on the office premises. They also brought out a procession over the issue. The demonstrating freedom fighters then urged the government to resolve the problem soon by re-amending the list. Brenjan Chambugong, upazila nirbahi officer and member secretary of the scrutiny committee,  said the ministry published a list comprising seven members on January 14. According to the list,  Alauddin and Jaglu were named along with five others. But, the ministry on Thursday updated the list replacing Alauddin with Sohrab and Jaglu with Hossain Ali. As of 10:15pm on Saturday, a meeting was being held looking for a solution to the dispute. Muktijoddha Sangsad's Sirajganj district unit commander Gazi Safiul Islam said Hossain Ali was named in the updated list, though he is not enlisted in Lal Muktibarta or included in a list prepared by India following the war in 1971. Inclusion of his name in the scrutiny committee is a complete violation of relevant rules, he said, adding, despite the fact, the Awami League leader was named in the circular by the ministry, mysteriously. Contacted, Md Mahbubur Rahman Faruqi, deputy secretary of the ministry, said he had no idea about the matter in Sirajganj sadar upazila. “If there is any allegation against any member of a Jamuka committee, the list including his or her name is amended,” he said. Jamuka Director General Punyabrata Chowdhury said anybody, who is not enlisted in Lal Muktibarta or mentioned in a list prepared by India, cannot be member in the scrutiny committee.