Attempt to frame Jamaat leader in false extortion charge by Zia Mancha leader alleged
Shah Alam Mia, Mithapukur (Rangpur)
Allegations have raised against Shakil Ahmed, Member Secretary of Rangpur District Zia Mancha, a BNP-affiliated professional organization, for attempting to frame Shafiqul Islam, Secretary of Mithapukur Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami and Mirzapur Union Parishad Chairman, with false extortion charges.
In a protest statement sent to the media on Thursday Shafiqul Islam, the Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary and UP Chairman, condemned and protested the attempt to frame him due to political rivalry.
According to the allegations, on April 30, in the Tulshidanga Bil area of Mirzapur Union, Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur, a team led by Shakil Ahmed, along with local sand trader Abdul Jalil, was illegally excavating and selling soil using an excavator. During this activity, the Mithapukur Upazila Administration’s Executive Magistrate (Assistant Commissioner of Land) seized an excavator and a tractor used for transporting soil. As the alleged owners fled the scene, the magistrate handed over the seized equipment to Shafiqul Islam for safekeeping, as per legal procedure, since no immediate fine could be imposed. Subsequently, Shakil Ahmed repeatedly requested the chairman over the phone to appeal to the Assistant Commissioner of Land (AC Land) to reduce the fine.
However, Shakil allegedly recorded a phone conversation regarding the fine reduction and manipulated it to falsely claim that the chairman demanded a 2 lakh taka bribe to release the seized excavator. This manipulated recording was spread on social media, and Shakil allegedly used BNP-affiliated journalists to publish news in various newspapers accusing Shafiqul Islam of demanding 2 lakh taka in extortion.
Shakil Ahmed, Member Secretary of Rangpur District Zia Mancha, claimed that the chairman demanded 2 lakh taka, citing the AC Land’s name, and that he has a call recording as evidence. He further alleged that the chairman secretly took 2 lakh taka from Jewel, the alleged renter of the excavator, to release it. Shakil demanded justice for this issue.
Jewel, claiming to be the sand trader and renter of the excavator, stated that when Shakil failed to secure the release of the equipment, he personally met the chairman, who allegedly demanded 2 lakh taka. Jewel claimed he paid this amount to the chairman at his private office near Bairati Jame Mosque on April 10 between 9 PM and 11 PM, after which the excavator was returned to its owner. However, Jewel could not provide any ownership documents for the excavator or evidence of the alleged 2 lakh taka payment to the chairman.
Abdul Jalil, the actual renter of the excavator, clarified that Shakil and Jewel had rented the equipment from him. When it was seized by the AC Land, and they failed to secure its release after two days, Jalil sought assistance from the equipment’s owner. He approached the AC Land, who instructed him to sign a bond with the chairman to ensure no further illegal sand extraction. Jalil complied, signed the bond, and returned the excavator to its owner without any monetary transaction. He questioned why Jewel, if he were the owner, did not sign the bond and challenged him to provide proof of ownership. Jalil alleged that this was a politically motivated attempt to frame the chairman.
A local resident, Sagar from Aditpur, stated that since the change in government, Shakil and Jewel have been illegally extracting sand from various locations in Mirzapur Union, using BNP’s influence. Their activities have damaged several kilometers of unpaved roads, rendering them unusable. The chairman’s efforts to stop these illegal activities made Shakil and Jewel resentful, leading to their attempt to frame him with false extortion charges.
Shafiqul Islam, the Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary and Mirzapur UP Chairman, stated that after the government change, Shakil and Jewel began illegal sand extraction using BNP’s influence. He had intervened multiple times to stop them, which led to their conspiracy to frame him. Shakil asked him to request the AC Land to reduce the fine, and the manipulated recording of this conversation was used to falsely accuse him of extortion. Shafiqul denied any financial transactions and emphasized that no extortion took place.
Mithapukur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Multamis Billah confirmed that no one was present at the scene during the seizure, so an immediate fine could not be imposed. The excavator and tractor were handed over to the chairman for safekeeping. The renter, Abdul Jalil, later signed a bond promising not to engage in illegal sand extraction, and with the AC Land’s permission, the equipment was released. No financial transactions occurred, and the AC Land confirmed Abdul Jalil as the renter, with no knowledge of Jewel’s claim to ownership.
According to the allegations, on April 30, in the Tulshidanga Bil area of Mirzapur Union, Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur, a team led by Shakil Ahmed, along with local sand trader Abdul Jalil, was illegally excavating and selling soil using an excavator. During this activity, the Mithapukur Upazila Administration’s Executive Magistrate (Assistant Commissioner of Land) seized an excavator and a tractor used for transporting soil. As the alleged owners fled the scene, the magistrate handed over the seized equipment to Shafiqul Islam for safekeeping, as per legal procedure, since no immediate fine could be imposed. Subsequently, Shakil Ahmed repeatedly requested the chairman over the phone to appeal to the Assistant Commissioner of Land (AC Land) to reduce the fine.
However, Shakil allegedly recorded a phone conversation regarding the fine reduction and manipulated it to falsely claim that the chairman demanded a 2 lakh taka bribe to release the seized excavator. This manipulated recording was spread on social media, and Shakil allegedly used BNP-affiliated journalists to publish news in various newspapers accusing Shafiqul Islam of demanding 2 lakh taka in extortion.
Shakil Ahmed, Member Secretary of Rangpur District Zia Mancha, claimed that the chairman demanded 2 lakh taka, citing the AC Land’s name, and that he has a call recording as evidence. He further alleged that the chairman secretly took 2 lakh taka from Jewel, the alleged renter of the excavator, to release it. Shakil demanded justice for this issue.
Jewel, claiming to be the sand trader and renter of the excavator, stated that when Shakil failed to secure the release of the equipment, he personally met the chairman, who allegedly demanded 2 lakh taka. Jewel claimed he paid this amount to the chairman at his private office near Bairati Jame Mosque on April 10 between 9 PM and 11 PM, after which the excavator was returned to its owner. However, Jewel could not provide any ownership documents for the excavator or evidence of the alleged 2 lakh taka payment to the chairman.
Abdul Jalil, the actual renter of the excavator, clarified that Shakil and Jewel had rented the equipment from him. When it was seized by the AC Land, and they failed to secure its release after two days, Jalil sought assistance from the equipment’s owner. He approached the AC Land, who instructed him to sign a bond with the chairman to ensure no further illegal sand extraction. Jalil complied, signed the bond, and returned the excavator to its owner without any monetary transaction. He questioned why Jewel, if he were the owner, did not sign the bond and challenged him to provide proof of ownership. Jalil alleged that this was a politically motivated attempt to frame the chairman.
A local resident, Sagar from Aditpur, stated that since the change in government, Shakil and Jewel have been illegally extracting sand from various locations in Mirzapur Union, using BNP’s influence. Their activities have damaged several kilometers of unpaved roads, rendering them unusable. The chairman’s efforts to stop these illegal activities made Shakil and Jewel resentful, leading to their attempt to frame him with false extortion charges.
Shafiqul Islam, the Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary and Mirzapur UP Chairman, stated that after the government change, Shakil and Jewel began illegal sand extraction using BNP’s influence. He had intervened multiple times to stop them, which led to their conspiracy to frame him. Shakil asked him to request the AC Land to reduce the fine, and the manipulated recording of this conversation was used to falsely accuse him of extortion. Shafiqul denied any financial transactions and emphasized that no extortion took place.
Mithapukur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Multamis Billah confirmed that no one was present at the scene during the seizure, so an immediate fine could not be imposed. The excavator and tractor were handed over to the chairman for safekeeping. The renter, Abdul Jalil, later signed a bond promising not to engage in illegal sand extraction, and with the AC Land’s permission, the equipment was released. No financial transactions occurred, and the AC Land confirmed Abdul Jalil as the renter, with no knowledge of Jewel’s claim to ownership.
