Further stories of criminal activities by Nur Hossain were brought to the attention of an ongoing mass hearing yesterday, when more victims of the Narayanganj ward councillor’s reign of terror came to give depositions in connection with the seven murders in the district.
Owners and drivers of auto-rickshaws described to the mass hearing, being held by the government-formed probe committee, about how the gang of Nur Hossain – the prime suspect in the gruesome murders – had seized at least 500 battery-run auto rickshaws from the road ahead of Pohela Boishakh, and pocketed at least Tk10,000 for releasing each vehicle.
Without the consent of the owners, the associates of Nur also reportedly sold the auto-rickshaws that were comparatively newer than the rest.
Five such victims talked to the Dhaka Tribune in front of the Shiddhirganj Power House, where the mass hearing was taking place.
One of the victims, Jahangir Alom, said: “They seized at least 500 auto-rickshaws that day from Mouchak, Shanarpara, Chittagong Road, Shimrail, Shiddhirgonj and Adamji areas, and gathered them in Shimrail Eidgah grounds near Nur Hossain’s home.
“They took two of mine. It was very tough for me to manage the money. Still I am paying the interest of the money,” Jahangir claimed.
Md Nazim Uddin, another victim, said: “I bought an auto rickshaw for Tk45,000 on instalments. Within 10 days, some associates of Nur Hossain seized it from the Chittagong Road bus stand.
“I went to them with the money but they gave me another auto rickshaw which was old. When I told them that it was not mine, they replied that if I wanted an auto-rickshaw then I would have to take it or get lost. I left the place without the auto-rickshaw.”
Md Nasir Uddin, who also testified before the mass hearing, said: “They took two of my auto-rickshaws. I went to Yasin Miah, general secretary of Shiddhirganj Thana Awami League, to ask for a favour. But he said he could do nothing. Then I went to them [Nur’s gang] with Tk20,000 and recovered my auto-rickshaws.”
Md Guljar Hossain, another victim, said: “On that day, I was driving my auto rickshaw. When I was in Mouchak area, two people hired me to take them to Shanarpara near Nur Hossain’s home. When I reached the place the two passengers seized my auto-rickshaw and said if I wanted it back I would have to pay Tk10,000. After giving the money the next day, I got my auto-rickshaw back. But I sold it within a few days fearing they would seize it again.”
Guljar has now switched his profession to become a vegetable trader.
Another of Nur’s victims, Alomgir Hossain said: “I had to pay Tk30,000 for getting back my three auto-rickshaws. I had to manage the money within a very short time on high interest.”
