40 UP leaders demand action against BNP lawmaker

Some 40 BUPOJ members including some local BNP leaders attended a press conference in the city where their leaders urged high-ups in ruling BNP and the government to take action against him and threatened of tougher agitation for non-compliance.

They called a 'grand rally' of Union Parishad (UP) chairmen and members at Trimohini in Puthia on July 31 to protest his "atrocities".

Nadim Mustafa is a lawmaker from Puthia-Durgapur parliamentary seat.

Rajshahi divisional BUPOJ president and Haripur UP Chairman Bazle Rizvi Al Hasan Munzil read out a written statement at the press conference held at a city auditorium.

Among others, BUPOJ Secretary General and Sardaha UP Chairman Matiur Rahman, Rajshahi district convenor of BUPOJ and Bhallukgachhi UP Chairman Wayezul Islam, Shilmaria UP Chairman Sazzad Hossain, Charghat BNP president and Salua UP Chairman Abu Sayeed Chand and Godagari upazila Jubo Dal secretary and Gogram UP Chairman Hazrat Ali replied to questions at the press conference.

They narrated alleged atrocities done by Nadim Mustafa and his men during the last four and a half years.

They claimed hat Nadim Mustafa's cadres attempted on the life of former Baneswar UP chairman Abdus Samad and Joynagar UP Chairman Abdul Mazid in 2003 as they did not carry out his orders. Shilmaria UP chairman Sazzad Hossain was on the run during 2004 for the same reason, they alleged.

Cadres of the lawmaker led by Puthia Jubo Dal secretary Jinnah attacked Bhallukgachhi UP chairman Wayezul Islam on June 30 and severely beat him but police did not record any case, they said.

His cadres damaged the houses of Bel Pukuria UP chairman and UP member Abul Hosain. The two local body leaders were arrested in a false case, they further alleged.

They told the press conference that six UP chairmen on June 15 sought security from the district administration following threats by Mustafa's cadres.

The lawmaker got five UNOs and six police officers-in-charge transferred from Puthia and another five UNOs and three OCs from Durgapur in last four and a half years as they declined to oblige him, they said.

They also alleged that the lawmaker and his men misappropriated huge amounts of money from development projects in the two upazilas.

These include 250 tonnes of rice worth Tk 35 lakh, allocated for Shaheed Zia Smriti Shangha, which exists in name only, they claimed.

Nadim Mostafa is holding the posts of governing body chairman of some 40 schools, colleges and madrassas in the areas, they said.

When contacted, Nadim Mustafa MP refuted the allegations and termed those as "baseless".

" Some influential BNP men in Rajshahi city, who are envious of my popularity, are prompting those unpopular Union Parishad leaders to talk against me as the election is nearing", he said.