The story of Nizam Uddin Hazari, who was once an arms dealer and terrorist, is now going around Feni, ever since the murder of the Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque.
A number of locals said Nizam started his political carrier with the blessing of top terrorist and former lawmaker Joynal Hazari. He got involved in criminal activities when he was a student at the Feni Commerce College in the 1980s.
Later, he was gradually involved in arms trade with alleged support from former Awami League Presidium member Aktheruzzaman Babu, said several grassroots level Awami League leaders and activists.
Nizam was a resident of the Lomi Hazari House, and is Joynal’s relative. Towards the beginning of the 1990s Nizam used to attend all kinds of meetings and processions organised by Joynal Hazari.
He was a diehard supporter of Joynal Hazari. However, with the passage of time, he established his supremacy and developed his own gang of criminals in Fulgazi upazila, said locals.
Police said Nizam was first sent to jail on March 22, 1992 in an arms case and was released on July 28 that year. He landed in jail once again for involvement in another arms case in 2000 and came out in December 2005.
With full support from Feni district Jubo League unit’s joint convener Ekramul Haque, he unleashed a reign of terror in the upazila.
Ekram organised a grand reception to Nizam in Feni in 2005. Nizam created a stronghold in Feni with the support from Ekram and another upazila Chairman Didar, said a number of locals, requesting anonymity.
In 2009, Ekram was elected the chairman of Fulgazi upazila and Nizam was elected the mayor of Feni in 2011.
Nizam then established his control over Feni politics and got involved in tender manipulation.
He also began to oppose Joynal and Ekram’s hegemony. He and his men allegedly set Joynal’s house on fire on January 28, 2011 because Joynal had opposed his mayoral election.
He was made the general secretary of the Awami League Feni district unit through a council in 2012 after which, party men said, Feni “was in his hands.”
Nizam then began drug dealing, smuggling and trading arms through Bilonia border of the district.
On January 5, he took part in the national election from the Awami League, resigning as the mayor. Ekram also tried to contest as an MP candidate from Feni 3 constituency and this irked Nizam.
By this time, Nizam had established his unchallenged supremacy in Feni politics with his armed activists and with the district’s Joint General Secretary Jahangir Adel and Fulgazi upazila Joint General Secretary Jahid Chowdhury.
Municipality Commissioner Gitar’s brother, Jiaul Alam Star, leads Nizam’s arms hooligans.