Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday warned Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy and lawmaker AKM Shamim Osman for engaging in a clash centering hawkers eviction.
As per direction of the Premier, the minister also called the AL backed both public representatives to take part in an arbitration in the city where the party chief is likely to give them necessary instruction, the Minister said.
Obaidul Quader warned of taking AL’s organisational action against those who were behind the mayhem in Narayanganj city.
“I have talked to the Prime Minister in this regard. She (prime minister) said that organisational steps would be taken against those who were involved in the incident,” said Quader.
He was addressing a press conference at Awami League President’s political office in Dhanmondi of Dhaka on Wednesday. He did not give details.
Describing it as a “very bad example”, Quader said, the Home Minister has been asked to take steps against the guilty.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Wednesday “An inquiry has been opened and those who were responsible for damaging the party’s image publicly would not be spared. I will also meet the two leaders.”
The Minister ordered Ivy and Osman to restore peace in Narayanganj, adding that he had phoned both of them today (Wednesday) to find a peaceful solution, he added.
He said, ‘I phoned both of them (Ivy Rahman and Shamim Osman) to stop any untoward incident any more after getting information from Narayanganj Police Super (SP). We’ll call both and investigate into the matter.’
Local Government Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said that it was ‘beyond their imagination’ that the feud between the two Awami League leaders would result into a street battle.
“We would have intervened if we had guessed before,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, local administration has permitted hawkers to set up their vendors from Chashara to Metro Cinema Hall area from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, said Rabbi Mia, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Naryanganj.
The decision was taken in the interest of people after discussing with the mayor and local lawmaker though the decision surprised the local people, mainly Ivy and her followers as well as city corporation staff.
On Wednesday, a meeting also was held with the hawkers where superintendent of Police and some NNC officials were present, the DC said.
He also claimed that Mayor Ivy and local MP Seliam Osman gave their note to permit the hawkers market in the area.
But the local administration will never allow any vendor on the Bangbandhu Road in the city.
On December 25, the city corporation and local administration evicted the hawkers marker at Chashara.
A three-member investigation committee led by Jasim Uddin Haider, Additional Commissioner (Revenue) was formed to investigate the Chashara incident. The other members are Additional Police Superintendent Mostafizur Rahman and RAB-11′ Assistant Director Babul Akhtar, The committee was asked to submit the report within seven days, the DC added.
Besides, Police also remained in relax mood to arrest Jubo League leader Niazul Islam, who threatened Ivy’s supporters brandishing a firearm, local sources said.
At this, Ivy’s supporters got agitated and roughed him up, they said.
Ivy said, “We were attacked without any provocation. From the Rifles Club, Shamim Osman gave the order to shoot. His men fired shots one after another.
She said, Jubo League leader Niazul, who was spotted brandishing a firearm, is reportedly Osman’s follower.
Shamim Osman refuted the allegations against him. He, however, said he knows Niazul, who is the owner of a big market.
“Even though he was seen brandishing a pistol, it is to be ascertained whether he fired any shot or not,” he said.
Niazul, a resident of the city’s Chadmari area, worked as a contractor from 1996 to 2001.
According to police, he had been accused in a case over the murder of a local BNP leader in 1988. But the case was withdrawn later.
Niazul, who introduces himself as a Jubo League leader, is brother of Jubo League activist Nazrul Islam alias Sweet, who was killed in a shootout with law enforcers.
Asked about Ivy’s allegation, Narayanganj Additional Superintendent of Police (administration) Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman said, “We did not take any side. We tried to prevent the feuding groups from attacking each other. We performed our duties”.
“We are trying to arrest the culprits,” he said.
