Handing out wheel chairs and cash on International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Kurigram.

 Saifur Rahman Shamim, Kurigram : 03.12.2022

The 31st International and 24th National Day of Persons with Disabilities were celebrated in Kurigram with rallies, discussions, distribution of cash and aids. On Saturday morning, on this occasion, a colorful procession circled the road from the District Commissioner’s office premises.  Later, a discussion meeting was held in the Swapnakurdi Auditorium of the District Commissioner’s office.  Under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Minhajul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Md Rezaul Karim, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Ruhul Amin, Municipal Mayor Md Kaziul Islam and Deputy Director of District Social Services Department Md Rokonul Islam and Suvarna citizen Afroza Begum spoke in the event. In the event, 15 disabled people were given wheel chairs and 12 people were given cash.

Even in 3 days, the committee of the Awami League of Roumari Upzela of Kurigram was not announced.

 Helpless leaders to State Minister.

 Kurigram Correspondent:

 Although 3 days have passed since the conference of Roumari Upazila Awami League of Kurigram, the committee has not been announced.

 According to the local leaders and activists, the announcement of the Roumari Upazila Awami League committee has been postponed due to the name of the candidate for the post of general secretary being changed step by step, commotion, blockade, kicking at the leaders’ doors, bodyguards injured, roadblocks, misbehavior with the district and central leaders.

 This incident happened last Tuesday night at Roumari Upazila Dak Bungalow of Zilla Parishad.  After various dramas throughout the night, without announcing the committee, the central and district leaders left the scene under police guard on Wednesday morning.  In this incident, there is a storm of discussion and criticism in the whole upazila.

 Awami League leaders and activists, police and eyewitness sources said that the tri-annual conference of Roumari Upazila Awami League was held on Tuesday.  The first session of the program went well, but in the second session, 36 people were interviewed for the post of general secretary and 13 people for the post of president.  At the end of the interview, 3/4 names came in the draft list.  Among them, former general secretary Rezaul Islam Minu’s name was left out and newcomer Raju Ahmed Khoka’s name came first.  But local leaders and activists, including former president of Upazila Awami League and state minister for primary and mass education Zakir Hossain, protested strongly.  At one point, the leaders and workers erupted into protest.  Later, Minister Zakir Hossain named Jadurchar Union Awami League president Shakhawat Hossain Sabuj as an alternative candidate.  Before Sabuj’s name was announced, allegations were made against him as a convicted murderer.  He is sentenced to life in the murder case.

 After this complaint, minister Zakir Hossain blocked the central leaders and gave the second name of an NGO worker named Abu Hanifa.  The central leaders received a complaint against him in a check case of 1.5 crores.  When the news spread, the local leaders and activists all said that Shakhawat Hossain Sabuj is a convicted murder case, Abu Hanifa is an NGO worker and a check fraud case accused will not be accepted in any way.

 Later, State Minister Zakir Hossain named the headmaster of Roumari CG Zaman High School Abu Horaira as an alternative.  He is also an accused in government employment and fraud cases.

 Finally, when Fazlul Haque Moni’s name came up, State Minister Zakir Hossain refused to accept him.  The central and district leaders could not take a decision even after repeated meetings.  Due to the delay in announcing the name of the committee, the local leaders and workers got angry.

 At one stage they were blocked and the bodyguard of Awami League central leader Shahjahan Khan was injured when they kicked the door.  When Zakir Hussain shouted that he could not go without announcing the committee, the supporters blocked the road and lay down.

 Central leader Shahjahan Khan opened his mouth about the decision early on Wednesday after the night-long drama.  Addressing the aggrieved leaders and activists, he said, “Due to complications arising before announcing the name of the committee including the president-general secretary of the committee, the announcement of the committee has been postponed for the time being.”  Later, a decision will be made after discussing with senior leaders.  Later on Wednesday morning, central and district leaders left the scene under police guard.  State Minister Zakir Hossain apologized for behaving rudely with central activists.

 Kurigram District Awami League President and former MP Alhaj Md.  Zafar Ali, the organizational secretary of Bangladesh Awami League.  Sakhawat Hossain Shafiq, District Awami League General Secretary Aman Uddin Ahmed Manju and other leaders and activists of District Awami League.

 In this regard, the former president of Roumari Upazila Awami League and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain said that the announcement of the committee has been postponed due to the circumstances and adversity of the situation.