2 ex-MPs among 25 leaders on the run in Satkhira

They are among 45 people on the list of law enforcers, wanted for their alleged involvement in corruption, protecting musclemen and other crimes. The list also includes some Union Parishad chairmen.

Five AL men, 17 belonging to BNP and its front organisations and one each of JSD and Workers Party have so far been arrested since declaration of emergency on January 11. They are in jai now, the sources said.

"We listed 45 political leaders including two former lawmakers for their alleged involvement in corruption and sheltering terrorists and musclemen", a highly placed police source said.

He declined to name the leaders but said two former lawmakers of BNP and Jamaat are on top of the list. Houses of four BNP leaders and one AL leader were raided in late March. They and other leaders are on the run since then, the police official said.

Sources in Satkhira district Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) also said they received allegations of corruption and irregularities against some political leaders including two former lawmakers. The allegations have been sent to higher authorities for directive.

Joint forces on January 26 recovered government relief CI sheets from a garage owned by one of the former lawmakers.

Police sources said, joint forces seized over 325 pieces of relief CI sheets from different institutions including Islami Pathagar, Islami Samajkalyan Sangstha and Young Muslim Club set up by Jamaat leaders in different areas of the district. A huge quantity of CI sheets was also misappropriated in the name of such institutions, they claimed.

Joint forces also recovered over 215 pieces of relief CI sheets from three educational institutions set up by a former lawmaker. One of the institutions was named after him, they said.

Satkhira Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is also investigating allegation of misappropriation of CI sheets and other relief materials during the past government, district ACC sources said.

When contacted, Satkhira ACC Deputy Director Abdul Wazed Gazi admitted that they are probing the allegations brought against two former lawmakers.

Many UP chairmen facing corruption charges do not attend regular law and order committee meetings as they are absconding, Tala Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Waliullah told local journalists recently.

Those arrested so far include former Jamaat lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam, Sadar upazila BNP president Abdul Alim, district JSD secretary Obaidus Sultan Bablu, Workers Party secretary Mustafa Lutfullah, AL treasurer and Kulia UP chairman Asadul Haque, AL leaders and Satkhira pourasava commissioners Momin Ullah Mohon, Abdus Selim and Ailu, district Krishak Dal president Mohammad Ali, organising secretary Masum Billah Shahin, district Juba Dal organising secretary Kala Jahangir, Debhata upazila Jubo Dal joint convenor Rezaul Islam and Kalaroa upazila AL joint convenor Firoz Ahmed Swapan.