Jashore: Asst Secretary of Jamaat among three leaders suspended in Monirampur

Asst Secretary of Jamaat among three leaders suspended in Monirampur

The membership of three leaders, including Assistant Secretary Ahsan Habib Liton of Monirampur upazila Jamaat in Jessore, has been suspended. The other leaders are district Shura member Mohiul Islam and municipal team member Faruk Hossain.

The decision was made at an "urgent meeting of responsible officials" held on Friday, June 5, at the upazila Jamaat office. The suspension came to light today, sparking discussion and criticism among party members.

Although district and upazila Jamaat leaders have acknowledged the suspension of the three leaders, none have disclosed the specific reasons for the decision.

On April 30, a clash occurred between activists of BNP and Jamaat in Monirampur over distribution of proceeds came from selling sand excavated from the Harihar River. In the evening incident that took place at Monirampur market area, at least 20 people from both sides, including Ahsan Habib Liton and Mohiul Islam, were injured.

The upazila Jamaat office was also vandalized during the clash. Although both BNP and Jamaat filed separate cases with Monirampur police station over the incident, leaders of the two parties later reached a compromise.

Following the incident, the district Jamaat formed a three-member investigation committee to look into the matter, headed by district working council member Arshadul Alam. The committee members included district assistant secretary Monirul Islam and Abdul Malek, president of the party's affiliated organization, the district Labour Welfare Federation. They visited Monirampur and spoke with relevant activists and locals to investigate the cause.

The investigation uncovered various allegations against Ahsan Habib Liton, including exerting influence in different offices and making money by participating in cattle market leases since Jamaat candidate Gazi Enamul Haque was elected as an MP in the last parliamentary election. The committee also gathered evidence of controversial activities.

Additionally, the investigation found proof of the involvement of Ahsan Habib Liton, Mohiul Islam, and municipal team member Faruk Hossain in the April 30 clash. Consequently, the district Jamaat decided to take punitive action against these three leaders.

According to Jamaat sources, the emergency meeting of responsible party-men held on June 5 at the upazila Jamaat office decided to suspend Ahsan Habib Liton for two months, Mohiul Islam for three months, and Faruk Hossain for two months from their party positions.
The meeting was attended by union-level amirs and secretaries. Several leaders of the party, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that as upazila Amir Fazlul Haque was in Dhaka for a party meeting at the time, upazila Secretary Khalilur Rahman formally announced the district Jamaat's decision. The matter was initially kept under wraps, but has now begun to come to light.

Regarding the issue, upazila Jamaat Amir Fazlul Haque said the three leaders have been temporarily suspended. He stated that this is an internal party matter and that allegations of extortion, division of money from soil sales, and tender manipulation are not true.

When asked whether the suspensions amounted to expulsion for acts contrary to party discipline, he replied that it was an internal decision and could not be disclosed publicly.

It is known that significant factionalism has recently emerged within the upazila Jamaat over the announcement of candidates for local government elections. Particularly in the Vojgati, Dhakuria, Nehalpur, Chaluahati, and Khedapara unions, there is widespread discontent at the grassroots level over the announcement of chairman candidates. The upazila Jamaat Amir and two assistant secretaries, Liton and Shamim, are believed to have played a role behind this.

Meanwhile, Ahsan Habib Liton admitted to the suspension but claimed that the allegations against him are not true. "Neither I nor my organization support such activities," he said.

Arshadul Alam, a member of the district Jamaat working council and head of the investigation committee formed to probe the incident, said, "The three leaders from Monirampur have been suspended for two months. I was in charge of the investigation committee, but the decision was made by the district." When asked what the investigation found, he hung up the phone.