Elected public representatives in the southwest region are living in fear for their lives after a spate of killings of union parishad chairmen.
In the past three decades, at least 96 UP chairmen have been killed by terrorists in 10 districts of the region. In most cases, the accused are reported to be moving freely among communities.
The latest victim was Singhajhuli UP chairman of Chougaccha upazila of Jessore and the district unit Chhatra League president Zillur Rahman, who was killed on September 26.
Earlier this year, Putkhali UP chairman of Benapole and Awami League leader Abdur Razzak was killed. Additionally, sources have said Benapole Putkhali chairman Nuruddin was killed allegedly by Awami League- backed terrorists while Benapole UP chairman Abdul Karim was killed by unidentified miscreants.
In fear of their lives, many chairmen left their unions to take shelter in the towns.
UP chairmen are the public representatives for development at the field level so normal development works at the grassroots local government level are being hampered as a result.
On March 21, a group of assailants hacked Meherpur Mujibnagar Upazila BNP joint secretary chairman Dr Hamidur Rahman Helal to death. Helal’s daughter Setu, a 17-year-old college student, was also killed in a bomb blast while attempting to save her father.
The reasons for the killings range from internal party conflict, village feuds, and establishing supremacy in the area; to haat-bazar lease, capture of shrimp enclosures, smuggling, and control of syndicates. Rivalry with extremists is also being blamed.
UNB reports that although the chairmen were mostly elected through huge votes, it will not be possible to bring a majority of the killers to book. As a result, the accused have begun issuing further threats to the victims’ relatives.
