Hemayetpur of Savar. Zaina Bari Road is a little further from the main road. Information about extortion was found in a local market here.
The shopkeepers say that earlier the people of Awami League collected the subscription, but now its control is in the hands of ‘another group’.
200 rupees are being collected per shop per day.
A shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named, said, “Awami League is no more. But still I paid for two days. Isa is not sorry for how much money. Hara is now giving the money to another group.”
However, he did not say anything openly on the question of what other groups mean.
“Earlier, the manager who did the collection was the Awami League manager. That manager is doing the collection. Now I don’t ask who he gives the money to.
Another shopkeeper said that he is paying two hundred rupees as before.
“I gave two hundred rupees a day. The shop did not open the next day, nor did I pay. I am opening today, I need to pay now.”
Even if there is a change of person after a change of government in Bangladesh, the old system of corruption, domination, extortion or occupation does not change much.
This time after the fall of Awami League government, more or less the same picture is seen.
Allegations of extortion, influence and even encroachment are being raised in various places, especially against BNP leaders and workers.
Although the interim government itself is being told by the top leaders of BNP that no concession should be made in such incidents.
But has this stopped extortion and occupation? The reality, however, does not say so.
Control of subscription on ‘BNP’s signboard’
Extortion is not happening everywhere in Savar’s Hemayetpur. Especially the main road and the adjacent bus stand, tempu stand and shops are saying that no one is coming to ask for contribution.
A clothing shop called Imran Ali says that although there was extortion earlier, no one is coming anymore.
“Students everywhere now. Everyone has said that if someone comes to collect the subscription, call and inform them. Besides, miking is also done. As a result, we are at peace so far.”
However, if you go a little inside Hemayetpur, the picture of extortion becomes clear.
Locals say that extortion is going on in various areas including Zainabari, Yadurchar, Shyampur.
But no one was willing to open up to the question of who is doing this.
However, on the condition of confidentiality, the locals say that behind these donations are ‘BNP people’.
A businessman named Ramiz Uddin (pseudonym) said, “Earlier, Awami League people used to collect subscriptions from shops and rickshaw stands. Basically. Fees are collected in the name of rent from the shops which are in government places. All these have been done under the banner of Awami League. After the pot change, now that group is starting again with the signboard of BNP. BNP people are behind them.”
The office of Awami League is now occupied by BNP
As there are images of encroachment and extortion outside Dhaka, there are similar complaints inside Dhaka as well.
On Wednesday, a scene of encroachment was seen at Babar Road in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. An office of the Sramik League was built by occupying the road and footpath near the Bihari camp on Babar Road.
Mohammadpur Thana Jubo Dal took over that office after the change of power.
On the surface, it was seen that the office was locked. But a banner of the Nationalist Youth Party is flying.
Upon inquiry, it was found that the leaders and activists of the Youth Party have occupied the office, but no one is sitting there for the time being.
A local resident said that he did not see anyone sitting here after the occupation.
“BNP is taking over here after Sheikh Hasina’s escape. But they are only putting up banners, not sitting. He will sit when he comes to power.”
The situation is the same in West Agargaon area. The office of Awami League built on the culvert is now occupied by BNP.
On the surface, it can be seen that the office has been repaired by installing new tin.
Anti-corruption poster of Chhatra Dal has been pasted on the office.
But here too the office is found locked.
Locals said that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina, BNP leaders and workers demolished the office on the night of 5th August.
The next day they repaired it again and took possession of it.
There is a subscription, there is no subscription
It is not the same that the subscription is being collected everywhere in Dhaka city. In one day, we visited five spots in Dhaka and found that there was no incident of extortion in four of them.
Mainly by talking to sidewalk hawkers, roadside shops, transport workers, no information about extortion was found in these sectors.
However, some tong shopkeepers in Matsa Bhavan area said that they have been asked for a contribution.
A shopkeeper, who did not want to be identified, said that in the last few days, two groups have come and said that they will have to pay the subscription.
“Yesterday there was an Aisa Boila, I will have to pay the subscription. Later in the afternoon another group came. He says that we will get up now, we will not give it to anyone else. I said later, you first hold a meeting and decide who to give.”
Apart from this, there are cases of market shop encroachment and threats of handover of fake garment business in different areas.
An official of a garment factory, who did not wish to be named, told BBC Bangla that they have been threatened to hand over the business to their factory under the identity of BNP.
He said, “We will do business of lying now. Do not give to anyone else. He came to the factory and said this. Threatened. Entered the factory with ten/twelve motorcycles. Saying that BNP has sent such and such a leader etc etc.”
What is BNP saying? And what is the government doing?
After the fall of the Awami League government in Bangladesh on August 5, the news of extortion and occupation in different parts of the country appeared in the media.
Basically, some measures were taken by the party immediately after these complaints came against the leaders of the BNP and the organizations in the present Awami League.
BNP Central Organizing Secretary Bilkis Jahan Shireen was accused of filling the pond in Barisal town on the night of the fall of the government.
Bilkis Jahan Shireen’s party post was suspended on August 11 after it was widely discussed in the media. However, no reason was mentioned in the party press release.
As in Barisal, when complaints are coming one after another from different parts of the country, the top level of the party issued a speech and issued a stern warning against any irregularities including encroachment or spread of dominance.
But the question is, why did the leaders and workers of the party get involved in such activities during the change of power?
BNP standing committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan told BBC Bangla that he feels that as much as it is being promoted, it is not happening in reality.
“I will not say that there are no incidents anywhere. Maybe it happened. If an Awami League office has been taken over anywhere, it has not come from the instinct of taking over. It comes from the human instinct to protest. But our job is to prevent it. We have and will do everything we can to deter here.”
According to BNP, all levels of the party have been given strict instructions from the center to refrain from ‘any misdeed’ in their language. But the reality is, even then these incidents do not stop.
In such a context, a few days ago, Home Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain warned to take strict action against extortionists and encroachers.
In the meantime, in the context of the start of the activities of law enforcement forces in the country’s police stations, the Home Affairs Advisor told BBC Bangla that the police will take action if any such incident occurs.
He said, “We have already given warning. If it doesn’t (work), then the police will look into it.”
Even if there is a change of person after a change of government in Bangladesh, the old system of corruption, domination, extortion or usurpation does not change much.
Now after the fall of the Awami League government, the new interim government is saying to ‘change the system’. The government is also under pressure from the students.
But it remains to be seen how much will actually happen.