Senaul Islam works as a C&F agent at Sona Mashjid landport in Chapainawabganj. He is also involved in Sramik League politics. He is president of Sramik League coordination committee of the port unit. Local people know him as a public representative. He was earlier elected member of Union Parishad. He is allegedly an undercover arms smuggler. He and his brother Juba League leader Akherul are godfathers of arms smugglers in the locality. Bringing arms from India, they sell those in Bangladesh. Recently, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) sent a report on escalation in arms influx from India including a list of smugglers to the home ministry. The PMO directed the home ministry to take necessary action against the godfathers. In a follow-up to this, an instruction was sent to the police and BGB officials concerned on Monday. The list includes the names 370 arms smugglers across the country. Of them, 7 persons are from Netrokona, 20 Comilla, 4 Brahmanbaria, 8 Feni, 18 Rajshahi, 5 Naogaon, 14 Chapainawabganj, 29 Joypurhat, 28 Jessore, 9 Jhenaidah, 31 Kushtia, 14 Chuadanga, 25 Meherpur, 19 Satkhira, 30 Barisal, 15 Dinajpur, 24 Sylhet, 9 Sunamganj, 8 Habiganj, 14 Rangamati, 12 Khagrachari, and 27 from Bandarban. A number of 53 godfathers have been named in the list. They include Awami League-BNP leaders and activists. Names of local body chairmen and members were also mentioned. The report says arms are being smuggled into the country with direct and indirect involvement of public representatives, politicians, BGB and police officials. About this, BGB director general Maj gen Aziz Ahmed said his forces are trying to control arms influx despite various limitations. He said the delinquent officials are being punished. He further said arms are being recovered on the basis of intelligence report. “We sought necessary equipment from the government. If we get, we will be able to effectively resist arms smuggling.” The PMO report expressed deep concern over the escalation in arms influx. It cited the example of staggered arms recovery here and there by police. Besides, huge arms and ammunition were recovered from Habiganj forest. Some unscrupulous persons at the bordering regions have been doing this dirty business since long. The report further said the law and order and social safety will deteriorate if the situation continues. The PMO report suggests that it is necessary to beef up patrol by posting honest and efficient officials of law enforcing agencies including BGB at the BOP (Border Out Post) and other newly-built check-posts for checking inflow of illegal arms through border. The report also revealed that it is necessary to settle arms cases against the arms smugglers which remain in different police stations. Legal steps should be taken against politicians who are involved in arms trade. When asked, Moklesur Rahman, Director General of RAB told this correspondent, “The main task of RAB is to rescue illegal arms. It is their duty to arrest arms smugglers immediately. RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) is rescuing huge arms everyday. They unearthed a large number of arms and ammunition from Hobiganj district recently. RAB remains alert to arrest arms traders and recover illegal arms.” It was learnt from PMO office, godfathers of arms smuggling in Comilla include Zahirul Haque Rintu, former GS of Comilla Polytechnic Institute, Russell of Shaktala area of Comilla, Shipon, organizing secretary of district Chhatra Dal, Tuhin of Munsef Bari area of Comilla sadar, Ashiqur Rahman mahmud Washim, GS, Comilla District Jubo Dal, GS Shahid of Professor Para at Muradpur under Kotwali thana, Utbatul Bari Abu, President, District Chhatra Dal, Thakurpara area of Kotwali thana. When asked, Utbatul Bari Abu told this correspondent, “I have no involvement with arms smuggling. My name was published in the list due to political reason.” Akherul, president of Shabajpur Union of Shibganj thana of Chapainwabganj district is also listed as a godfather of arms smuggling. The name of Senaul, Sramik League leader and former member of Shabajpur union is also in the list. It is learnt that now Akherul is in jail on killing charges. Senaul told this correspondent about the issue, “I am a businessman. Activists of BNP and Jamaat set fire to my house during the last movement. I am leading Sramik League at Sona Masjid land port area. Someone may create conspiracy against me.” When asked about arms smuggling, he said, it is totally false. Godfathers of arms smuggling in Feni district include Ziaul Alam Mister, Fazlur Rahman Bakul and Gawsul Islam Minar. It is learnt that Ziaul Alam Mister is convener of Feni Poura Jubo League. He is the accused of Upazila Chairman Ekram killing case. Now he is absconding. Fazlur Rahman Bakul is the convener of Feni District JASAS (Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha) and general secretary of BNP Feni sadar upazila. Gawsul Islam Minar is the chairman of Mangalkandi union of Sonagazi upazila. When asked about the allegation, Fazlur Rahman Bakul told this correspondent, “I am not involved in arms trade. It is fully a conspiracy.” Md Soloiman Ali, of Atrai upazila of Naogaon district is listed as godfather of arms smuggling. Golam Mahfuz Chowdhury, Akkelpur Upazila of Joypurhat is listed as godfather of arms smuggling. It is learnt that he is the chairman of Rukindipur union and general secretary of Akkelpur upazila AL. Abdul Quiyyum, sub inspector of DB of Joypurhat has been enlisted in the list. When asked, he said, “I am not involved in arms smuggling. I am discharging duties here with sincerity. I have been here since three years.” In Rajshahi, the name of Manik alias Kongfu Manik of Durgapur thana has been included in the list. In addition, names of some 18 persons have been included. Godagari’s Nawshad Ali, Jahangir Alam and Amirul Islam are among them. In Netrokona, a total of seven smugglers of Durgapur area are involved in arms trafficking. They are: Tajul Islam, Md Mazim, Abdur Rashid, Billal Hossain, Md Matiur Rahman, Mobarak Hossain and Abdul Haque Miah. It has been learnt that the arms traders of Kolkata, Belgharia, Barasat, Bashirhat, Bangaon, Jangipur, Raiganj, Lalgola, Domkol, Krishnanagar, Dumdum, Banihat, Hingalganj, Bhagwangola of Paschimbanga of India are smuggling arms into Bangladesh. The illegal arms mostly enter into the country through Chapai Nawabganj and Kushtia borders. The arms godfathers are mostly using Godagari, Charghat, Chapai Nawabganj Sadar, Bholahat, Sibganj, Rahanpur, Gomostapur, Naogaon’s Dhamoirhat, Patnitala and Sapahar routes as the safest for arms trafficking. Though small arms traffickers are being caught sometimes, the godfathers are out of reach. In such a way, this illicit business is increasing day by day. When asked, Lt Col Abu Zafar, captain of BGB Battalion-9 of Chapai Nawabganj said a total of 38 firearms had been recovered in the last 5-6months from this area. After arresting, BGB members send arms smugglers to the police stations. He admitted that it is not possible to seize all the smuggled arms.
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