An unscrupulous group, following the unrest after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, has looted hundreds of cattle from the char areas and illegally occupied launch terminals in Mehendiganj and Hizla upazilas of Barishal District.
On August 5, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country in the face of a mass uprising led by students.
Afterwards, as Awami League leaders and activists went into hiding fearing mass vengeance, the lucrative income sources in these two upazilas were occupied by BNP leaders, according to media reports.
In the two days following the fall of the government, there was an unprecedented looting in the char areas of the two upazilas. Hundreds of cattle and buffaloes, which farmers were grazing on the island-like chars in the middle of the Meghna River, were openly taken away by miscreants on trawlers and sold in various places.
Local sources further said that taking advantage of the unrest and absence of security personnel, influential local BNP leaders took control of the launch and ferry terminals, fish markets, sand quarries, and looted hundreds of cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats from the remote char areas using trawlers, according to the Daily Samakal.
A significant portion of the new occupiers are followers of the Central Jubo Dal’s General Secretary Rajib Ahsan Khan, a resident of Badarpur, a neighbourhood in Mehendiganj municipal town, the source added.
Earlier this year, local Awami League leaders took leases on the Mehendiganj launch terminal, Southpara ferry terminal, Tajul's ferry terminal, Pottakhali ferry terminal, Ulania launch terminal, Hizla launch terminal, old Hizla ferry terminal, Harinathpur ferry terminal, and all the small and large ferry terminals within the two upazilas, which are owned by the district and upazila councils.
A large part of Hizla is now under the control of Hizla BNP Convener Gaffar Talukdar and Monir Dewan, the member secretary. In Mehendiganj, control has been taken by Milton Chowdhury of North Ulania and Mizan Majhi, the president of the Jubo Dal in Govindpur Union.
Monir Dewan, the member secretary of the Hizla BNP, has taken over the Hizla Reporters Unity and turned it into his personal office. The Hizla Press Club has also been locked up. When this correspondent tried to communicate with Monir about the issue, he did not respond.
Previously, a portion of the area was under the control of Nazrul Islam Milon, the vice president of the Hizla Upazila Awami League and a UP chairman. The remaining part was controlled by the brothers Jamal Molla and Bellal Molla, along with Jamal Dhali and Tarek Sardar.
Dhulkhola UP member Ratan Rarhi, also known as ‘Boba Rattan,’ and his son Saidul Rarhi have been accused of cattle looting.
Babul Matubbar of Charjanpur in Gaurabdi said that on the morning of August 6, over 200 miscreants wreaked havoc on the char. They took 40 of his cows, 70 buffaloes, 10 goats, and 7 sheep. Babul's nephew, Yasin Matubbar, reported that the miscreants also took 200 maunds of his soybeans.
Regarding the cattle looting, Gaffar stated that most of the stolen animals have been returned due to his efforts. He mentioned that Ratan Rarhi is known as a bad character in the area.
Monir Zomaddar, a Mehendiganj former municipal councillor and Awami League leader, said that his leased launch and ferry terminals, which he acquired for Tk 38 lakh, have been taken over by followers of Rajib from the Jubo Dal.
Additionally, the Ulania launch terminal has been seized by Mizan Majhi, the president of the Jubo Dal in Govindpur Union. UP member Shah Sufi said that his leased Vashanchar launch terminal, worth Tk six lakh, has been taken over by local BNP leaders and activists. Although they initially took over a shop he leased in the market, they later returned it under pressure.
When asked for comment, Gias Uddin Dipen, the convener of the Mehendiganj Upazila BNP, told, "The leaseholders of the water vessels and fish markets have fled. Local residents are collecting labour fees. None of our people are involved in this. Locals are setting up new markets next to the abandoned fish markets of Awami League leaders and doing business there."
Mehendiganj and Hizla upazilas are isolated from the main landmass of Barishal. The unions and villages of these two upazilas are disconnected due to the Meghna and Tetulia River, and their numerous branches and canals.
However, the sand, fish resources, launch and ferry terminals, and the thousands of acres of char land of these two main rivers are like gold mines. If one can gain control over them, there's no need to look back. That's why the political landscape changes in Mehendiganj and Hizla with every shift in power.
