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BNP Leader Rafiqul Killing

Feud over market could be a reason

Staff Correspondent
Feuds over the control of Dhaka Mohanagar Complex market and formation of a new committee of Ward-56 BNP are considered to be among the reasons behind the killing of BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Majumdar.
Rafiqul was found dead in Kushtia hours after he was allegedly picked up by the Rapid Action Battalion in Jhenidah Saturday evening.
Earlier disappearances of Ramna thana unit BNP president Chowdhury Alam and Wazi Ullah, former president of the owners' association of the market, also had some connections with the clash over gaining control of the market located at Bangabazar, said sources in police, Rab, businessmen in the market and family members of Chowdhury Alam.
Chowdhury Alam, who was also
councillor of Ward-56 BNP unit, disappeared on June 25, 2010 from the capital's Indira Road and Wazi Ullah on July 14, 2011 from Phulbaria of Dhaka.
Rafiqul was among those who were thought to have links with the disappearance of Wazi Ullah. The six other suspects are Meer Al Mamun, Abdur Rahman alias Rahman Hujur, Jalal Ahammad, Kala Rafiq, Kibria Hossain and Jahangir - all members of the markets' management committee.
According to sources, in the name of hawkers' rehabilitation, two markets — Dhaka Super Market and Bangladesh Super Market -were constructed in 1999 on railway's land taken in lease for 99 years. Later, the two pieces of land were shown as Waqf estates. During the last army-led caretaker government, the markets were brought under a single project, Dhaka Mohanagar Complex. Rahman Hujur and Rafiqul gained control over it in 2009.
Chowdhury Alam was not in the market's management committee but used to play a key role in shop distribution in both markets. Wazi Ullah and Bablu were his main aides.
The following year Chowdhury Alam disappeared as he was trying to get back his control. And then Wazi Ulla went missing in 2011.
Chowdhury Alam's younger brother Khurshid Alam Mintu told The Daily Star yesterday, "We suspect my brother might have been disappeared over a feud related to the market. We also think that law enforcers were responsible for his going missing."
According to sources, another feud developed when Rafiqul wanted to be the president of the market management committee.
"Though Rafiqul was a BNP leader, he was running his activities and businesses in association with those Awami League leaders, who are also in the market committee," said a source in the committee.
At least three Awami League lawmakers have been included in the market committee soon after the AL came to power.
Contacted over the phone, Rafiqul's brother Mafizur Rahman said they were not yet ready to make any comment.
Zahid Hossain Nawab, convenor of the Ward-56 unit BNR said Rafiqul was a vice-president of the market committee and the member secretary of the convening committee of Ward-56 unit BNP.
Besides, he was a general secretary candidate for Ward-56 unit BNP and also a councillor aspirant for the upcoming election to Dhaka South City Corporation.
Zahid said the new ward committee was scheduled to be formed within a month.
Contacted, Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan yesterday said Rab had not picked up Rafiqul and that they were trying to find out those who had and killed him later.
Meanwhile, traders and employees of Mohanagar Complex vandalised at least 50 vehicles yesterday, during a demonstration protesting the killing of Rafiqul.
They also kept the market closed yesterday.
Our Correspondent in Kushtia reports: No case has been filed in connection with the murder and none has been arrested as of yesterday.