Sylhet Bureau:
There have been conflicting allegations about encroachment on a market in Baluchar, Sylhet city. Suhel Ahmed, the caretaker of the market owner, Shamim Ahmed, a UK expatriate, has filed a general diary with Shahparan Police Station in this regard. On the other hand, the person accused in the general diary says that he knows nothing about these incidents.
It is learned that Shamim Ahmed, the owner of Emon Plaza in Baluchar Notun Bazar in the city, is a UK expatriate. He owns several lands including a market in Baluchar Notun Bazar. He has tenants and residents in the market.
Shamim Ahmed's caretaker, Suhel Ahmed, son of Arif Ullah of Inatnagar village in Jagannathpur upazila, filed a general diary with Shahparan police station on February 5, Diary No. 233, alleging market encroachment. In the diary, he accused Lahin Ahmed Chowdhury, son of Intazur Rahman Chowdhury of Baluchar area, and his people.
Meanwhile, Lahin Ahmed Chowdhury said that Suhel Ahmed's allegations are completely false and fabricated. He said that propaganda is being spread against him by hiding the real incident. Lahin Ahmed said that Suhel Ahmed is a relative of Hiron Mahmud Nipu, a former district Chhatra League president and former councilor of Ward 36 of Sylhet City Corporation and a fugitive accused in several cases, including attacks on students and the public during the anti-discrimination student movement.
He said, "When the previous fascist government was in power, I had a business and party office in that market. On the orders of the market owner, my office and business establishment were vandalized in 2015 under the leadership of Hiron Mahmud Nipu. During this time, several lakhs of taka were damaged. Since Hiron Mahmud Nipu was the leader of the ruling party at that time, he did not get any justice. Although he filed a case in connection with the vandalism, the case did not see the light of day."
He said that he has not yet received the money he paid in advance to the market owner. After the vandalism of the office and shop, Lahin Ahmed did not return to the market.
A visit to the market on the spot revealed a different scene. This reporter spoke to various people in the market and the area. Traders and locals, who did not wish to be named, said they were not aware of any such incident of market occupation or attack. They said that Lahin was also a trader in this market and he has been removed from the market.
Sources say that a drama has been staged in the name of occupying the market to prevent Lahin Ahmed from renting a shop in that market again. At the same time, attempts are being made to tarnish his political image.
Lahin Ahmed said, "To embarrass me, Hiron Mahmud Nipu is trying to tarnish my political image by making false allegations against me from unknown sources."
He said, Hiron Mahmud was involved in various anti-social activities including kidnapping, robbery and drug dealing in the Nipu area. When I stopped him from doing so, he got angry with me. And he attacked and vandalized my office and business establishments. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, he went into hiding. Now he is trying to defame me again by making false allegations through his relatives. He said, resistance will be built against these Awami League fascists with the help of everyone in the Nationalist Volunteer Party.
In this regard, General Diary Investigation Officer Syed Fakhrul Islam said that a GD has been filed on behalf of the expatriate. They are investigating the truth of the matter.
