He earns Tk3-4 lakh every month by providing illegal power lines
Jalaluddin Bhantu, chairperson of Kurmitola Relief Committee, has earned a fortune allegedly by extorting money from his own Bihari community members for the past four years.
Most members of the community alleged that Jalal’s accomplices “Napak” Raju, Md Asgar, Murad, Jabed, Selim, Bholu, Kamal and “Dariwala” Raju collect Tk50 to Tk1,000 from each house of East Kurmitola New Camp every month.
Riaz Uddin Ahmed, senior vice-president of Bangladeshi Bihari Rehabilitation Sangsad, told the Dhaka Tribune: “During last Ramadan, Tk500 was collected from each of the houses. Now they are demanding money ahead of this year’s Ramadan.
“Jalaluddin is our chairman and his duty is to look after us. But he is a bad man. He verbally abuses us.”
Neaz Ahmed Khan, chief patron of the Bangladeshi Bihari Rehabilitation Sangsad, said: “Many unlawful acts take place in
the camps.”
Jalaluddin has been allegedly providing illegal electricity connections to houses in the camps in exchange for money. Many told the Dhaka Tribune that they had got their connections from him and pay a monthly bill of Tk50-60 to his men.
Riaz Uddin Ahmed said a complaint on behalf of the camp members had been submitted to the deputy commissioner on June 19.
The complaint reads: “Jalaluddin deliberately excluded East Kurmitola Camp, Irani Camp, Medical Camp, Murapara Camp and School Camp from the government’s list of recipients of free electricity by bribing officials. He now takes money to provide illegal connections and earns around Tk3-4 lakh every month.
“Mirpur 11 Relief Committee member Sarfaraz, Sanaullah, Mostaq, Fakku, Bablu and Golam Gaus Guddu are providing electricity from the Bihari camp to around 1,500 shops of New Society Market in Mirpur and are earning Tk4-5 lakh. As a result, the people from the camp are experiencing power outage.”
Division in the community
The army has been tasked with constructing the first part of the camp which is divided into three parts. The second part is being built under the supervision of the deputy commissioner and the relief committee, while the last part, known as Rajur Basti (Raju’s slum), is being constructed by members of Non-Bangalee Camp Management Committee.
Jalaluddin took Tk2,000-3,000 from each household for building houses in Rajur Basti four years ago. There are at least 500 houses where around 80% of the people are Biharis. Although the Biharis there claimed themselves to be members of the new camp, new camp inhabitants refused to include them in the community.
Md Rahmat, a resident of the new camp, said: “They are slum people and most of them are Bangalis. We do not want them in our community. They have been using our electricity and water connections illegally. Now we are not going to give them any facilities.”
Case against Jalaluddin
On June 12, Riaz filed a case against Jalaluddin, 19 named and 15-20 unnamed people with Pallabi police station.
The case statement said: “Four years ago, the chairman took Tk2,000 from each family and provided electricity connections. A month ago, he wanted Tk1,000 from each of us again and threatened to cut the power supply if the money was not paid. As we refused to pay the money, they disconnected the power lines on June 1. Later, they began threatening us that we would be ousted. Electricity officials came on June 11 and wanted to reconnect the lines but the chairman’s men, including Md Firoz, Napak Razu, Asgar, and several others, resisted them. When we wanted to intervene, they hit Riaz and left him injured. Some women were also assaulted and ear rings weighing two tolas of gold worth Tk15,000 from a Bihari woman were snatched. Jalaluddin then threatened by saying he would kill us by bombing and burning us.”
Secretary of Kurmitola Relief Committee Mostaq Ahmed, however, denied the allegations, saying: “Our chairman is clean. People of Rajur Basti are trying to trap us.”
Interestingly, Md Nasim, known as “Current” Nasim who used to collect bills from the houses on behalf of Jalaluddin, said the opposite.
“The chairman is a wicked man. He provided three illegal power connections to Tota Miyar Basti and Fazar Ali Basti, each having 500 houses. I myself also paid Tk1,500 for a connection. Jalaluddin is running an illegal electricity business,” he said.
Electricity mechanic of the camp Shakir said: “Some components in the lines were burnt on June 1. Electricity officials came the following day and suggested reducing the load in order to carry out repair work. I disconnected the illegal lines as Jalaluddin promised to reconnect those later. When I finished repairing and was reconnecting the lines, Jalaluddin’s men stopped me and asked for money.”
They blame each other
Commenting on Neaz, Jalaluddin said: “He is a cheap man. He used to collect extortion money from the houses. When I tried to stop him, I was sued but I am not going to stop.”
“Soon we are going to file case against Neaz Ahmed Khan.”
On the other hand, Riaz said: “They are blaming each other to save themselves when we filed cases against them.”
Neaz said: “Lawmaker Elias Mollah is fully aware of the extortion business but is not taking any action. If he did, we would not have faced such problems.”
The outsiders do not know what is happening inside the camps, he added.
Electricity office denies allegation
Electricity officials have denied the allegations brought against them by the new camp members, who said these officials were also involved in providing illegal electricity connections.
Electricity for the camps in Mirpur 12 is being supplied from Pallabi Electricity Supply and Distribution office of Desco located in Mirpur 13.
Engineer Niaz Banda, sub-divisional engineer of S & D Division of Pallabi branch of Dhaka Desco, said: “Our officials are not involved in any illegal act. Besides, as far as I am concerned, none of our officials went to the camp on June 11.”
He said a complaint was recently filed by the camp residents about illegal electricity.
Niaz said: “Earlier this month, we received a complaint that some groups are using electricity illegally. I can not disclose any further to the press.”
MP is unaware
Contacted, lawmaker Elias Mollah told the Dhaka Tribune: “On June 10 around 10:45pm, the Biharis called me and I went to the camp. I called Jalaluddin to resolve the matter and he said he would arrive within 10 minutes. After a long wait, I called him again but his mobile phone was switched off. I then tried to convince them to give electricity to other Biharis as they are from the same community.”
He added: “I am not aware of any extortion business of the chairman. The Biharis are misunderstanding me. I believe they will meet me after knowing the truth. Some of them have already apologised.”
When community members turn enemy
Riaz said: “There is dispute among the community members and they have turned into enemies of each other. We are receiving threats. On June 13, Napak Razu threatened me and asked to withdraw the cases.”
Mostaq also said he was threatened.
“Some unidentified people are threatening us, saying why we spoke against the lawmaker. We are suffering from insecurity,” he said.
They support ex-chairman
Most of the Biharis have expressed their support for former chairman Gafur, saying he did not extort.
Riaz said: “Jalaluddin ousted Gafur from the area and became chairman four years ago but we want our former chairman back.”
Current Nasim, who is working for Jalaluddin, echoed the same view.
“Four years ago, Gafur went to Pakistan for two months and delegated the responsibility to Jalaluddin. Taking advantage of the situation, Jalaluddin unlawfully assumed power,” he said.
Source: Dhaka Tribune