Former Jubo Dal leader force counter in Pirojpur to close

In Nazirpur, Pirojpur, a former local Jubo Dal leader has been accused of forcing the closure of a 'Dola Paribahan' (transport service) ticket counter by demanding a commission on every ticket sold. The counter was shut down on Saturday morning but was reopened later that afternoon following the intervention of Nazrul Islam Khan, the district convener of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The incident took place on the morning of Saturday, November 14, at the Dola Paribahan counter in Nazirpur, Pirojpur.

The accused, Zakir Hossain Khan, is a former sports secretary of the Nazirpur Union Jubo Dal. According to the district BNP convener, Zakir had previously been expelled from the party for violating organizational discipline.

The counter manager alleged that when he arrived to open the counter on Saturday morning, Zakir Hossain Khan insisted that operations could not continue unless a commission was paid. When the transport service owners were informed, they refused to pay any commission, leading to the decision to keep the counter closed.

Md. Nadimuzzaman Ripon, an owner of Dola Paribahan, stated that Zakir Khan had previously proposed running the counter on a commission basis. On Saturday morning, Zakir called and warned that the counter would not be allowed to operate unless a commission was paid, then demanding that it remain shut.

Ripon added that the counter was reopened following the intervention of district BNP convener Nazrul Islam Khan. He noted that, for the time being, no legal action is being taken, thanks to Khan’s intervention.

However, Zakir Hossain Khan has denied the allegation regarding the commission demand. He claims he did not ask for a commission, but rather sought employment opportunities for local residents. "I have been associated with Dola Paribahan since 2001," he said. "During the Awami League's tenure, I faced lawsuits and attacks because of my association with this transport service. Don't I deserve something in return?"

District BNP convener Nazrul Islam Khan stated that one of the owners of Dola Paribahan contacted him about the issue, after which he intervened to have the counter reopened. He mentioned that he understood Zakir had previously been involved with the transport service and had requested a job based on that past association. 

Khan promised to look into the matter in detail and ensure a resolution. Nazrul Islam Khan further stated that Zakir had already been expelled for violating party discipline. He is no longer associated with the BNP. The party will not take responsibility if anyone commits a crime while using its name. The district BNP maintains a strict stance against such activities.

-    ZF/NS