Ataur Rahman Kawsar,
Osmaninagar Correspondent:
The dispute between the two parties over the development work of the Central Jama Masjid in North Kalnir Char of Osmaninagar has reached an extreme level. When one party announced on the mosque's microphone that there was a robbery threat in the village, the other party called the police emergency service number 999 and the police were also beaten up when they called the police to the village. Since last Thursday, tension and fear have prevailed on both sides due to repeated attacks on Uttar Kalnirchar of Sadipur Union of the upazila and Uttar Kalnirchar of Asharkandi Union of the neighboring Jagannathpur Upazila. Osmaninagar Police Station SI Mujibur Rahman has filed a case (Case No. 1) as the plaintiff, alleging that the police were beaten up when they went to the spot.
It is learned that when the construction work of the ablution facility, toilet septic tank and mosque market of the North Kalnirchar Central Jama Masjid started, Ruhel Mia, Abdul Haque Chanu Mia, Khasru Mia, residents of the Osmaninagar part of the village, obstructed the development work last Thursday. Tension started on both sides due to this. On Friday, at around 11 pm, local UP member Shawkat Ali informed the secretary of the mosque's management committee, Mobarak Hossain Mendi, that there was a robbery threat on the mosque's microphone, and the imam informed everyone to be alert that there was a robbery threat in the mosque and to be vigilant. Hearing the robbery threat on the microphone, Ruhel Mia, a resident of the Osmaninagar part of the village, called the police emergency service number 999 and reported the matter. When the Osmaninagar police came to know about the matter and went to the spot around 1 am, tension spread between the people of Abdul Haque Chanu Mia and Mobarak Hossain Mendi, and both sides got into a fight. Police officers who went to the scene were also beaten up.
Meanwhile, Mubarak Hossain Mendi alleged that around 12 am on Saturday, Abdul Haque Chanu Mia's people attacked the houses of his opponents Shibrul Amin, Akaid, Junaid, Montaz Mia, and Sabu Mia by throwing bricks and stones. Their houses were damaged. Tensions are high on both sides over this.
The secretary of the mosque's management committee, Mobarak Hossain Mendi, said, "We are residents of Jagannathpur. The mosque also falls in our upazila. The mosque's committee also consists of people from our area. When we started the construction of the mosque's ablution room, toilet safety tank and mosque market, Ruhel Mia, Abdul Haque Chanu Mia, and Khasru Mia, residents of the Osmaninagar part of the village, ordered us to stop the work. They are attacking our houses by throwing bricks and stones. We are not able to stay safe in our houses."
Ruhel Mia said, "We have no objection to the development work of the mosque. We want everyone to build an Eidgah and a market in front of the mosque. We have the support of Abdul Haque Chanu Mia, Haji Lokman Ali and others in the current development work of the mosque. But they want to work alone, excluding us. We have not attacked anyone's house."
Despite repeated calls to UP member Shawkat Ali's mobile phone, he did not pick up the call.
Osmaninagar Circle Assistant Superintendent of Police Ashrafuzzaman said that when the police received a 999 call and went to the spot, the police members were beaten up in front of the mosque. A police assault case has been filed with Osmaninagar Police Station in this regard.
