Before the mass uprising on August 5 last year, the controversial Char Elahi Ghat was controlled by Abdur Razzaq, the Chairman of Char Elahi Union Parishad and General Secretary of the Awami League. He is currently in jail. Reliable sources reveal that the ghat was leased legally by Sheikh Belal, the General Secretary of the union’s Jubo League. Following the uprising, control of the ghat was taken over by followers led by Nurul Alam Sikdar, the former BNP upazila convener. This power struggle within the BNP has led to violent clashes, resulting in the murders of former Char Elahi Union Chairman Abdul Matin Tota and Jubo Dal leader Ershad Majhi from Char Fakira Union. The violence, including clashes, riots, assaults, seizures, and looting, continues unabated.
On the past Saturday and Wednesday, former BNP General Secretary of Char Elahi Union Sahab Uddin, his brother expatriate Belal, Chhatra Dal leader Iman, Masud, and several others were injured in attacks by the Ibrahim Tota faction and are currently receiving hospital treatment.
The viral audio conversation between former Noakhali District Chhatra Dal leader Iskandar Mirza and ghat clerk Selim reveals that Nurul Alam Sikdar, the former BNP upazila convener, Ismail Tota (son of the deceased Tota Chairman), Subuj Tota, Bahadur Tota, Anwar Hossain (Tota Chairman’s son-in-law), Chhatra Dal leaders Rubayer and Fahim, along with six other leaders, each own a boat. Twenty percent of the daily earnings from these operating boats is deposited with the former BNP General Secretary of Char Elahi Union, Master, who then distributes it among BNP upazila and district leaders, UNO, DC, OC, and SP.
Iskandar Mirza questions why individuals like Saiful, Rubayer, Tota’s son Shahin, and Ibrahim, who also own boats and have launched new ones, are exempt from the 20 percent commission. Clerk Selim responds that everyone must pay, and he hands it over to Master, adding that he is not concerned about where it goes afterward. Mirza claims he has already paid around 1.4 million taka as extortion.
In another leaked audio with alleged journalist Kamal Uddin, Mirza states that Nurul Alam Sikdar, Ibrahim Tota, Ismail Tota, and their son-in-law own boats, questioning why only his boat was singled out. He reiterates paying approximately 1.4 million taka as a 20 percent commission. Mirza adds that initially, Ismail Tota and Ibrahim Tota demanded 30 percent, leading to several meetings, and his boat was shut down for a long period due to the dispute.
Mirza further alleges that Ismail Tota and Ibrahim Tota collected money from him, and when asked where it went, they said it was paid to Nurul Alam Sikdar, district administration, UNO, and OC to operate the boats, making the commission mandatory.
Companiganj Thana OC Gazee Mohammad Fouzul Azim claims the police have no knowledge of the ghat issue. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanvir Farhad Shamim states that Mujahidul Islam from Sandwip Upazila, Chattogram, has filed a writ in the High Court claiming ownership of the ghat’s location, preventing its lease.
Noakhali District BNP Convener Mahbub Alamgir asserts that the party’s “zero tolerance” policy against terrorists remains in place.
