Trawler driver missing from Sandhya River not found for 8 days - relatives claim dispute with extortionists.
Ujirpur Barisal Correspondent: The police administration could not find the missing trawler driver Mahbub Howlader from the Sandhya River in Ujirpur, Barisal for even 7 days. Jamal Hossain Howlader, the elder brother of the missing Mahbub, said that after August 5, two influential local people stopped his trawler and Mahbub got permission to operate the trawler in exchange for regular secret bribes. And because of not paying this regular bribe, he had to be kidnapped. Mahbub has been operating a trawler on both sides of Ujirpur and Babuganj for 40 years and has no conflict with anyone. After August 5, I became the victim of the wrath of two influential people and at the same time, my brother became a victim of the injustice of opposing the unjust demand of these influential people to bring the lease of the ghat in front. Desperate to get the lease, a party used to constantly pressure me and my brother. Even though I withdrew from the lease this year out of fear for my life, the only thorn in the side was my brother Mahbub. And that's why kidnappings can happen.
However, after informing the police about the matter, the police are trying to protect them for unknown reasons. Runa, the sister of the missing Mahbub, said, "The extortionists have abducted and disappeared my brother on a trick after not receiving regular extortion. Despite repeatedly telling the police about this, the police are not taking any action."
We are in panic along with our families. On the other hand, the trawler workers have stopped crossing for an indefinite period due to the kidnapping of the driver. Thousands of locals of Ujirpur Babuganj are suffering due to this. Farmers and agricultural crops are suffering. The Rahut Kathi Bazar Traders Association and locals of Babuganj Upazila have formed a human chain in search of the missing.
On February 5 at 10:30 am, a human chain was organized by the Rahutkathi Bazar Traders Association of Dehergati Union No. 03 of Babuganj Upazila, relatives and local residents. The president of the market traders association, Enamul Haque Khan, spoke under the chairmanship of Babuganj Upazila BNP member ABM Mostafizur Rahman Faruk, Upazila Jubo Dal convener Rakibul Hasan Khan, Uzirpur Journalists Union General Secretary Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Masum, missing Mahbub's elder brother Md. Jamal Hossain. The speakers said that since August 5, a group of seasonal extortionists, juvenile gangs, and occupying terrorists have been trying to destabilize the country by engaging in various heinous crimes such as arson, kidnapping, and disappearance, and in continuation of that, those extortionists have strategically kidnapped Mahbub along with a trawler and disappeared him. Therefore, they demanded that the police administration find the kidnapped victim Mahbub. Jubo Dal leader Rakibul Hasan said that a group of extortionists are trying to pressure the party by intermingling with the BNP and causing one incident after another. They must be resisted, and at the same time, we must be vigilant against these seasonal extortion terrorists.
Mahfuzur Rahman, general secretary of the Uzirpur Journalists Union, said that the people of the country want a natural death guarantee, everyone should stand up against extortionists and terrorists. The police should play a strong role in this regard. Jamal Hossain, the lessee of the ghat and brother of the missing Mahbub, said that the toll booth will remain closed until his brother is found. It is worth mentioning that Mahbub Howlader, a trawler driver from Mundapasha village in Uzirpur upazila of Barisal district, went missing along with the trawler on the way from Rahutkathi Ghat to Shikarpur from Babuganj-Uzirpur Sandhya River at around 10 pm on January 31. After that, he has not been found for the last 8 days. He is the son of Sekandar Howlader of Paschim Mundapasha village in Shikarpur union in Uzirpur upazila. According to local and family sources, Mahabul Howlader used to drive a trawler to cross the Shikarpur Kheyaghat regularly. On the day of the incident, January 31, at around 10:30 pm, 8 to 10 young and teenage passengers boarded his trawler. When they reached the middle of the river, they suddenly heard screams. However, as there were no other trawlers nearby, no one came to help.
Eyewitnesses and relatives on the river bank believe that he was abducted in a planned manner due to previous enmity and failure to pay extortion money to previous extortionists. A general diary and later a regular case have been filed in this incident at Babuganj police station. Meanwhile, police from both police stations are trying to rescue the kidnapped person.
The incident has caused panic among the locals. On the other hand, Jamal Hossain Howlader, brother of the missing Mahbub, told reporters that if the kidnappers of his brother are not arrested, the Dhaka-Barisal highway will be blocked. Abdus Salam, officer-in-charge of Uzirpur Model Police Station, said that Babuganj Police Station and Uzirpur Police Station are jointly trying to rescue him.
Md. Mahfuzur Rahman (Masum)
Ujirpur Barisal Correspondent
01712603893
