MP accused of extortion in Sunamganj

The government allocation for the construction of the Muktirkhola Bridge on the Bishwambarpur Road in Sunamganj is Tk 8,87,99,508. To carry out the work, local MP and District BNP Leader Nurul Islam Nurul must be paid Tk 1 crore in extortion.

Due to the contractor’s refusal, he is being harassed by being framed in false lawsuits, while police are being sent to his residence to intimidate his family members, forcing the terrified contractor to flee Sunamganj and take refuge in Dhaka.

Despite messages being conveyed through various channels, because the extortion money was not paid, Nurul himself arrived at the project site with a cadre force a week ago, verbally abused the contractor’s personnel, and ordered the work to be shut down, leaving the government development project completely halted ever since.

Citing these allegations, contractor Md Shafiqul Islam has submitted written applications to the prime minister, home minister, and Police Headquarters seeking legal action and protection of his life.

An analysis of copies of his application, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, and audio recordings of mobile phone conversations provided preliminary confirmation of the truth of these allegations.

Meanwhile, following his application to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking security, Nurul, accompanied by a cadre force in a motorcycle convoy, shut down the construction work of another bridge project worth Tk 87 crore being implemented by his firm on Tuesday shortly before evening, according to Shafiqul.  

Shafiqul claimed that due to a delay in executing his order, the MP personally dragged roller driver Monir Hossain off the roller, punching and slapping him. Simultaneously, the MP’s cadres kicked, punched, and slapped pay-loader driver Kabir Hossain and supervisor Hossain Ali.

Project Manager Rafiq Ali confirmed that construction work on that bridge has also remained shut down since the incident.

Ongoing discussions and criticism have gripped the area surrounding these allegations against Nurul of the Sunamganj-4, which comprises Bishwambarpur Upazila and a portion of Sunamganj Sadar Upazila.

Local officials of the Roads and Highways Department have also expressed negative reactions.

Shafiqul told Agamir Somoy, “MP Nurul Islam demanded Tk 1 crore in extortion from me. Where will I get so much money? How much profit will I even make from this work! Because I did not pay the extortion, he is harassing me and my family. The police are going to my house and intimidating my family members. He filed two false cases against me.

“Even after that, when I refused to pay the extortion, he has kept the work shut down for a week. Materials worth nearly Tk 2 crore are lying at my project. I have also informed local officials of the Roads and Highways Department about this matter. Today (yesterday) before evening, he shut down work at another site (project) of mine. The MP himself also beat up workers.”

Several phone calls made to Nurul’s mobile phone to obtain his statement regarding the allegations went unanswered. WhatsApp messages and requesting an interview were sent to the same number, but no reply was given.

Finally, specific written questions seeking Nurul’s response were sent on WhatsApp at 7:45 pm, but no reply was received as of 10 pm.

Documents reveal that contracting firm M/S Mostafa Kamal secured the construction contract for the Muktirkhola Bridge in Bishwambarpur with an 18-month execution deadline. Shafiqul began construction after receiving the work order on 6 January.

According to him, shortly after work started on 20 January, Nurul attempted to forcibly seize control of the construction work. Failing in this attempt, he demanded Tk 1 crore in extortion and threatened to see how work could proceed without paying.

Ignoring these threats, when the contractor’s team began building a bypass road for traffic movement, the MP grew further enraged and resorted to a scheme to “teach a lesson” by framing Shafiqul as an accused in a false case, leading to subsequent police harassment.

To avoid arrest, Shafiqul fled Sunamganj to take shelter in Dhaka, while police raided his residence under the guise of searches and intimidated his family members.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) of that case, on 17 September, a case (number 34) was filed at the police station regarding a procession brought out by leaders and activists of the banned organization Chhatra League in ward number 8 of Sunamganj Sadar, where Shafiqul was named as accused number 51. An analysis of the application submitted to Police Headquarters and CCTV footage obtained by Agamir Somoy shows that on 21 October, a police team led by SI Md Zahir Hossain and Zakaria Ahmad of Sunamganj Sadar Police Station raided Shafiqul’s residence in Sylhet city.  

Failing to locate Shafiqul, police officers intimidated his wife. Earlier, on 28 March, Shafiqul was named as an accused in a fish theft case (number 20) filed at Jamalganj Police Station in Sunamganj, from which he was subsequently exempted after an investigation found no involvement.

The application submitted by Shafiqul to the Prime Minister’s Office said after failing to receive extortion despite false cases and harassment, the MP’s cadre force was Unleashed on him. On 20 October, Mahmudul Hasan Naeem, joint convenor of Sunamganj Municipality Jubodal, known as a close associate of the MP, called Shafiqul’s mobile phone to pressure him into meeting the MP.

In the recorded audio conversation, Naeem was heard saying, “Today he went to your site, the MP came back after shutting down the work, he told you to meet urgently, listen to what I say, I am telling you, meet with him.”

In response, Shafiq said, “Is shutting down work the job of the MP? Since he asked to meet, I will talk once over the phone. I am in Dhaka, so meeting in person is not possible.”

Shafiqul claimed that on that very day, at 11 am and 5:30 pm, the MP along with his cadre force visited the project site in two phases and halted construction.

Earlier, on 5 October, Kamrul Hasan Raju, organizational secretary of the District Jubodal, known as a trusted confidant of the MP, called his mobile phone and issued threats, alleged Shafiqul, adding that he and his family face extreme insecurity amid continuous threats.

As a result, he applied to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking security. According to Shafiqul, Nurul grew even more furious after the security application to the Ministry of Home Affairs. On Tuesday before evening, he led a cadre force to another project initiated two years ago, assaulted the workers, and shut down operations.

Project Manager Rafiq said, “10 to 15 minutes before Maghrib, Nurul arrived with a motorcade of at least 10 motorcycles and started making threats to shut down the work.”

Saying he was a victim of the physical assault, pay-loader driver Kabir Hossain added, “I have been working as a pay-loader driver for the Roads and Highways Department for 27 years. Even after giving this identity, the MP himself grabbed me by the neck, pulled me down, punched and slapped me, and threw me onto the road.

‘After that, others beat me up. I have never faced such a situation in my working life. How can an MP lay hands on us? After being beaten, the three of us went to the office of Executive Engineer Zahirul Haq sir and informed him that work was stopped after we were beaten up. He was shocked upon hearing this. He told us, ‘You go get medical treatment. I will take action on this matter.’”

Site supervisor Hossain Ali noted, “We are poor people. Anyone can beat us.” Several phone calls made to Executive Engineer Zahirul Haq to inquire about the matter went unanswered, and messages sent to his WhatsApp explaining the reason for calling received no response.

Construction of the Salampur Bridge in Sunamganj at a cost of Tk 87 crore began around two years ago, with 80 percent of the work already completed.

When asked about the extortion demand allegations, Mahmudul Hasan Naeem, joint convenor of Sunamganj Municipality Jubodal, said, “An MP can certainly call any contractor in the district. But that does not mean he called for extortion. Shafiq is known to me, so the MP told me, ‘Tell Shafiq to meet.’ I did not apply any pressure. I only conveyed the MP’s message.”

Regarding allegations that the MP personally assaulted workers of the contracting firm and a government pay-loader driver, Naeem added, “I am in a lot of trouble. I cannot talk anymore. You call the MP.”

Denying the allegation of issuing threats, Kamrul Hasan Raju, organizational secretary of the District Jubodal, said, “I do not even know contractor Shafiq. So, the question of threatening him does not even arise.” He did not provide a direct answer regarding allegations of demanding raw material supply orders from contractor Shafiqul.

In response to another question, he added, “Today before evening, I attended a sports event in Bishwambarpur with the MP. On the way back, we went to inspect the Salampur bridge construction work. Seeing low-quality work being done there, the MP sahib said he would instruct the Roads and Highways Department official to stop the work. The allegation of beating anyone there is not true.”