It may sound unbelievable but it is true; Jamaat-e-Islami and its student-wing Islami Chhatra Shibir established their political muscle in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj with support from Awami League leaders and lawmakers.
A Dhaka Tribune investigation found Jamaat-Shibir had been able to establish their supremacy in Shibganj by maintaining a close liason with Awami League leaders.
Retired District Unit Awami League President Brigadier Enamul Haque, Vice-President Abdul Wadud, Secretary Mynuddin Mandal, Chapainawabganj-2 Lawmaker Abdul Wadud and Chapainawabganj-3 Lawmaker Golam Rabbani are alleged to be involved in pampering Jamaat-Shibir.
During the Awami League's tenure over the last five years, Awami League President Enamul Haque certified Chhatra Shibir men - including Islami Chhatra Shibir President Faruk of Rajshahi University - as Chhatra League activists.
His Brother-in-Law Fazlur Rahman, who is mainly a Jamaat leader, dealt in legal affairs in the upazila.
Furthermore, Enamul’s Private Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Babu, who completed his education from Rasulpur Madrassa, is also involved in Jamaat politics.
On request of anonymity, an Awami League leader said the district unit leaders rehabilitated Jamaat-Shibir men in Shibganj, thus giving them a platform to establish supremacy in the area.
The Dhaka Tribune tried to contact Enamul but his cell-phone was switched off.
When contacted, Enamul’s Private Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Babu refused to make any comment and disconnected his cell phone call at one stage.
District Unit Vice-President Abdul Wadud is an incumbent lawmaker from Chapainawabganj-2.
It was alleged that the lawmaker picked Jamaat district Amir Latifur Rahman and nominated him as an academic committee president of the City College and executive committee president of Fulkuri Islamic Foundation in the district town.
When questioned about Awami League organisational activities, Abdul Wadud, who was earlier a BNP leader, told the Dhaka Tribune that the responsibility of the entire party activities did not rest with him.
The lawmaker’s nephew Harun-or-Rashid is an organising secretary of Rajshahi unit BNP.
Wadud blamed district unit President brigadier Enamul Haque and its Secretary Mynuddin Mandal for the weakness of the party.
Regarding their forging of links with Jamaat-Shibir, he said the country was going through a political stalemate and that it required cooperation from all to continue political activities.
However, he denied that he hade established any links with Jamaat-e-Islami and claimed that he had always tried to work for the party's welfare.
Answerign questions as to why they did not protest after Jamaat-Shibir's attack on AL leaders, he said the incident took place in Shibganj and that he was not entrusted to look after party issues in that area.
“Our district unit president is tasked to do the job in Shibganj and moreover it is the area of Golam Rabbani who is an MP-elect,” he said.
When contacted, a Chapainawabganj-3 lawmaker said the party's activities were somewhat laid-back in the area because of poor organisational structure.
“We are working hard and hope that we would be able to rein in the situation very shortly,” he added.
District Unit Awami League Secretary Mynuddin Mandal also dodged questions regarding their leaders' connetction with Jamaat-Shibir.
He said: “I have heard something like that, but I do not know the details about it.”
As many as 19 political killings have been recorded in Shibganj over the past nine months. However, quite ironically, five of the casualties were Awami League men.
All the cases and complaints were recorded by the police, as the victims’ families dared not file any complaints against the attackers.
Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shibganj police station, said: “We wait for the victims’ families to approach us and file cases, but they do not respond.”
Most Awami League leaders in Shibganj and its surrounding areas spend nights away from home in fear of Jamaat-Shibir attacks.
This correspondent met Awami League activist Mostafizur Rahman in front of the district super market, who said he went home once a week fearing attack.
Recently, the Jamaat men attacked Mohammad Selim, 28, in the Ranihata area as he was on his way home, he said.
In the latest killing, a group of Jamaat-Shibir activists allegedly set fire to the shop of the upazila's Awami League Adviser Enamul Haque who was burned to death inside his shop.
When asked why no case was filed and no action taken, Awami League District Unit Health Secretary Shahjalal Shahin attributed the failure to the organisational flaws, while their Join Secretary Faruk Masum blamed their leaders.
Faruk said the district unit leaders were not concerned about the problems faced by leaders and activists in the upazila.
