Special Correspondent:

Believe it or not, Balu Sattar, once known as a labour leader, has now become an invisible controller of Sirajganj politics, and even the lord of the Jamuna River.

Despite being a former Awami League leader and former councilor of Ward No. 10 of Sirajganj Municipality, he has now become a self-proclaimed humanitarian peddler of society in exchange for black money. He rules over the Jamuna River and controls the local BNP leaders with the miraculous power of his mountains like money. When he wants, hundreds of people, including sand lifting workers, leaders and activists of BNP and other political parties, gather under one umbrella at his call.

Locals said, Sattar went into hiding after August 5. When the situation came to ease slightly, he came back to light after managing a local BNP leader by a big sum of money. Unfortunately, Sattar has now announced his own name as Mayoral candidate against that BNP leader. He is currently carrying campaign and lobbying activities to attract attention of voters.

With the upcoming municipal elections in view, after bringing the local BNP leaders and even the administration under his control, he has started spreading money like an ATM booth (machine) to introduce himself as humanitarian. But, what is the source of his so much money? No one dares to speak out against this monster for fear of being killed or attacked by his cadres or being a victim of false cases. With no other option, most of the local media workers, except for one or two, have accepted his dominance and are keeping quiet day after day with some money on a monthly basis. When someone writes against his misdeeds, some stand by him in exchange for money.

Not only that, but due to administrative weaknesses, no news reports or complaints are effective. Despite being charged in murder cases, law enforcement agencies have mysteriously not arrested him since the July-August uprising. On the contrary, he almost receives special security at various meetings and events in the town.

Taking the lease of all the Balumohals in Sirajganj, Sattar started illegally extracting sand from various places in the Jamuna River outside the designated sand pits. Using his muscle power and financial power, he has spread his dominance over the Jamuna River beyond his own district Sirajganj and across Tangail, Jamalpur and the neighboring Manikganj districts.

Due to his random sand extraction from Jamuna, various key structures like Hard Point or Town Protection Embankment of the Jamuna river near Sirajganj town and even two Jamuna Bridges may fall at risk. But on one of the concerned WDB or administration pay heeds in this regard due to blindness to the money. If asks, they present some common excuses of administrative loopholes and limitations.

They said, they do not see sand lifting anywhere of the Jamuna. If you can,  give the name and address of the specific places.” Interestingly, Balu Sattar and his men are informed before inspecting to the dredging sites in which they can leave the spot or remove the dredgers and other equipment to safe areas.

Taking favour of Sattar, district administration claims he has right to extract sands from leased areas, while WDB claims they have no right to obstruct him except his activities damage any structures.

Though, on the broad day light and in front of thousands of people, hundreds of homesteads, vast tract of croplands and various structures including educational institutions and mosques in Kazipur, Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Chowhali and Shahzadpur are being devoured by the Jamuna day after day due to indiscriminate sand extraction by Balu Sattar’s men and plying of innumerable bulkheads in the Jamuna river, no one of the concerned administration agrees to admit the inconveniences in mysterious reasons.

Locals said, Sattar uses drone camera to monitor Jamuna and its surrounding areas. He has several hundred cadres to control sand lifting, carrying and selling activities. He is not only leaseholder of Balumohals, he is also leaseholder of a Park at the middle of the Jailkhana Ghat and Motishaheber Ghat. Consequently it is easy for him to control access of people specially media workers or law enforcers to his dark zone.

Locals said that, due to the constant movement of sand-laden trucks, several roads of the municipality, including Janpur, Ranigram, Hossainpur and New Dhaka Road have become damaged, dilapidated and accident-prone. Partially covered sand-laden trucks regularly cause suffering to other drivers and passengers. But no one of the traffic police or Roads and Highways Department (RHD) sees it.

While contacted over cell phone, Sazzad Hossain, Executive Engineer of WDB in Sirajganj said, “I am yet to see extract sand anywhere of the Jamuna. Besides, I have no idea about plying of sand-laden trucks on the town’s roads or on any structures.”

Sattar’s dominance at administrations:

Sattar has not only established his supremacy at outside, he has set up dominance in the administrations. He has become member of district Law and Order Maintenance Committee on the identity of district chamber and recommendation of a top level BNP leader, it is alleged.

Anger and confusion among local BNP:

Anger has spread among the sacrificial BNP leaders and activists due to giving access an Awami League leader to BNP’s all fields. They are now facing confusion over the selecting mayoral candidate as BNP General Secretary Saidur Rahman Bachchu, who earlier announced himself as mayoral candidate, has now merged in several corruption and bribery allegations. On the other hand, Balu Sattar has launched directly and indirectly campaign for mayoral post in the name of planting trees, cleaning town and aiding poor.

Allegation of hoaxing vat and income tax against Balu Sattar:

Despite being owner of a luxurious resort, dockyard, car, house and several other business establishments, vat and taxes paid by Sattar is comparatively lower than his income that raises question over the transparencies.

Locals complained that, Sattar spends money like water to present himself as a good person, but does not pay VAT and taxes as shown on social media.

Sattar could not be reached for comment despite multiple calls.