Two partners of the leaseholder of Narua Kheyaghat on the Gorai River in Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari have been allegedly expelled. The incident created panic in the area.
The leaseholders demanded the intervention of the local administration to resolve the complexity of the ferry management.
It was known that for about 36 years, two or three people, including Manoranjan Sikder, had been conducting crossing activities by leasing the kheyaghat of Narua Union of Baliakandi. People of Rajbari and Magura districts travel through this ferry every day. Recently, Manoranjan Sikder, Shariful Islam and Golam Mostafa managed the kheyaghat, but after the movement of students and people on August 5, a quarter prevented Shariful Islam and Golam Mostafa from going to the ghat. It is alleged that on November 17, a gang in the name of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) drove them out of the ghat and took away their two boats.
Shariful Islam said they took the lease by paying government money in three parts. But since August 5, they have been prevented from going to the ghat. On November 17, some BNP leaders forced them to leave the ghat.
Another partner, Golam Mostafa, said they could not go there for fear of being beaten up if they went to the ghat.
Leaseholder Manoranjan Sikder said he was being forced to manage the ghat. He thinks that the issue of not allowing partners to come has happened due to local pressure. However, he does not know who is demanding or pressurizing the extortion.
Narua union BNP president Alamgir Hossain Mollah said no one from their party was involved in the incident. However, if anyone is involved in this act in the name of BNP, then recommendations will be made to the party's high-level leaders to take action against them.
ZH
