Shahidul Islam
Member of Bangladesh Parliament
In office
1996–2001
Preceded byAbdur Rouf Chowdhury
Succeeded byShahidul Islam
In office
2001–2006
Preceded byShahidul Islam
Succeeded byHasanul Haq Inu
Personal details
Political partyBangladesh Nationalist Party

Shahidul Islam is a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and the former Member of Parliament of Kushtia-2 from 1996 to 2006 for two terms.[1] He was known for filing cases and attacking journalists in Kushtia District.[2][3][4]

Career

In 1981/6, Islam was removed from Bheramara College as lecturer after an investigation by the Deputy Commissioner found his High School Certificate to be forged.[5][6] In the 1980s, he joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[6]

In 1991, he tried to get the Bangladesh Nationalist Party nomination for Kushtia-2 but failed.[6] He got his wife, Selina Shahid, elected to parliament from a Bangladesh Nationalist Party women's reserved seat.[6]

Islam was elected to parliament from Kushtia-2 as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the February 1996 Bangladeshi general election which was boycotted by all other political parties.[7] The previous Bangladesh Nationalist Party member of parliament, Abdur Rouf Choudhury, refused to participate in the election without any other party.[6]

Islam was elected to parliament from Kushtia-2 as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1996.[8] He received 64,389 votes while his nearest rival, Ahsan Habib Lincoln of Jatiya Party, received 40,106 votes.[8] Sirajul Islam Siraj, chief of Gono Bahini, campaigned for him in the election and intimidated voters.[6] After Siraj surrendered, Islam asked a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician to take over the gang.[6]

Islam was elected to parliament from Kushtia-2 as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate in 2001.[8] He received 100,544 votes while his nearest rival, Mahbubul Alam Hanif of Awami League, received 87,734 votes.[8] Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML) campaigned for him in the election.[6] On 1 April 2001, his follower was arrested with a gun and a case was filed against him.[6] On 15 July 2001, three Awami League activists were murdered and a case was filed by Ismat Kadir Gamma against Islam but Bangladesh Police dropped his name from the case.[6]

In 2003, Islam's associate Khokon as well as other leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami threaten the local Ahmaddiya Muslim Community.[9]

In February 2004, Islam challenged a tender of Bangladesh Water Development Board awarded to Japanese company with the parliamentary sub-committee who found the tender process faulty.[10]

On 21 July 2005, seven journalists in Kushtia District filed a general diary alleging Islam was threatening them.[11]

Islam verbally abused Hassan Jahid, a journalist of Manab Zamin, over a report at a government event in presence of Minister of Environment Tariqul Islam in May 2006.[12] Following that Kushtia Reporters' Unity called for a boycott of all his events.[12] In May, he filled an extortion case against three journalists claiming they threatened him at his house for 50 thousand taka.[13][14] The journalists are Al-Mamun Sagar, of ATN Bangla and Jugantor, Hasan Jahid, of Manab Zamin and RTV, and Munshi Tarikul Islam, of Samakal and Channel 1.[13] They had recently ran a new story on corruption by Islam's followers.[15] Another extortion case was filed against by a close aide of Islam and fellow Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician, Azad Biswas, who claimed the journalist robbed him at gunpoint and threatened to shoot him.[13] The journalists fled Kushtia District following the cases.[16] Kushtia District journalists called for the cases to be withdrawn.[14] On 16 May, Justices M. A. Rashid and Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan granted bail to the journalists.[17] On 30 May, Bangladesh Nationalist Party activist and supports of Islam and Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi attacked a rally of journalists protesting against Islam at the Kushtia Public Library ground.[18] President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and other senior journalists from the union and Dhaka Union of Journalists were injured.[18] There were protests against the attack across the country and was condemned by the Commonwealth Journalists Association and Committee to Protect Journalists.[19][20][21] Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for action against the attackers.[22] International Federation of Journalists called for the charges to be dropped against the journalists.[15] Human Rights Watch expressed concern over no one being arrested for the attack on journalists.[23]

On 1 June 2006, Kushtia newspaper Andoloner Bazar was vandalized by Bangladesh Nationalist Party followers following which Islam warned local press against printing the newspaper.[24][25] The newspaper stopped publication following the incident.[26] Khoksa Press Club in Kushtia District was attacked and vandalized by Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists.[27] In June 2006, Islam claimed he would win the next election regardless of the negative news against him.[28] He also blamed the police for the attack on journalists in Kushtia District.[28] He blamed the local people for the vandalism of Andoloner Bazar, a local newspaper.[29] A human chain was formed protesting against him at the Jatiya Press Club.[30] On 24 June 2006, Bangladesh High Court granted bail to journalists Islam had filed cases against.[31] There was a bomb attack on his election rally which he blamed on MA Khaleq who was contending against Islam for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party nomination.[32] Khaleq, owner of Pacific Group, denied the allegations against him.[33] Khaleq bought numerous allegations against Islam.[34]

On 13 July 2006, Islam attended a meeting with Minister of Home Affairs, Lutfozzaman Babar, Members of Parliament Abdus Salam Pintu, Bachhu Mollah, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi, Inspector General of Police Anwarul Iqbal, and Sangbadik Shramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad after which he apologised to journalists.[35] Lutfozzaman Babar ordered the administration take steps for Andoloner Bazar to resume publication and protest journalists in Kushtia District.[35] In November 2006, a case was filed against Islam over the murder of Krishak League politician Basir Udin.[36]

In 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission identified Islam as a corruption suspect.[37] The commission and two army officers from the National Coordination Committee Against Corruption and Crime had found evidence against Islam of embezzlement of public school teachers salary, illegal sand mining from the local river, harassing journalists, and embezzlement from government contracts through manipulation of tenders.[5] In February seven cases were filed against Islam for attacking rallies of the opposition party.[6] His house was raided but law enforcement failed to catch him.[6] His brother and chairman of Bheramara municipality, Touhidul Islam Alam surrendered to joint forces.[38] On 21 April 2007, his nephew, Lablu Malitha, was arrested from Kushtia by Rapid Action Battalion.[39] Malitha allegedly committed crimes under Islam's patronage and had 18 criminal cases against him.[39] Islam was the president of Kushtia District unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[5] From 2001 to 2006, six billion taka was sanctioned for development in his constituency and many of the contracts went to his relatives.[6] He had imported a lexus under his duty free quota as a member of parliament.[40] In September, his wife submitted his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission.[41]

On 12 November 2008, Islam spoke at an election rally though a phone as he had not visited the area since 2007 after the caretaker government took power.[37] Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami sought the Kushtia-2 seat nomination from their coalition partner, Bangladesh Nationalist Party but the party nominated Islam.[7][42]

Islam contested the 2008 Bangladeshi general election from Kushtia-2 as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[43] He lost the election with 107,527 votes while the winner Hasanul Haq Inu of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal received 165,952 votes.[43]

Islam along with the rest of Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the 2014 Bangladeshi general election and Hasanul Haq Inu of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal was elected from Kushtia-2 unopposed.[44]

References

  1. ↑ "Kushtia 2 constituency: Heavyweights set to slug it out for AL-led alliance". Dhaka Tribune. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  2. ↑ Haque, ANM Nurul. "By The Numbers". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  3. ↑ "Freedom of press under attack". archive.thedailystar.net. Star Weekend Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  4. ↑ Dewan, Abdullah A. "No Nonsense". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  5. 1 2 3 "Allegations against ex-BNP MP found correct, ACC to file case". archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Ex-BNP MP in Kushtia faces seven cases". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  7. 1 2 Aman, Amanur. "Row over nomination From Kushtia-2 Constituency". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Parliament Election Result of 1991,1996,2001 Bangladesh Election Information and Statistics". Vote Monitor Networks. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Eid day death threat to Kadianis". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  10. ↑ "GK Project". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  11. ↑ "7 journos file GD against BNP MP". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  12. 1 2 "Lawmaker Shahidul does it Again". archive.thedailystar.net. Star Weekend Magazine . Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  13. 1 2 3 "Another case filed against Kushtia journos". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  14. 1 2 "Kushtia journalists demand withdrawal of case by BNP MP". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  15. 1 2 "Drop charges against 5 Kushtia journos". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. 27 July 2005. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  16. ↑ "3 reporters flee Kushtia facing 'persecution by BNP lawmaker'". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  17. ↑ "Kushtia journos get bail in extortion case". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  18. 1 2 "Kushtia BNP cadres attack journos' meet". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  19. ↑ "Protests on against attack on newsmen". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  20. ↑ "CJA condemns attacks on newsmen". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. UNB. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  21. ↑ "CPJ concerned over govt's failure to protect journos". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  22. ↑ "Hasina demands punishment of attackers". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  23. ↑ "Rights group asks govt to probe attacks on newsmen". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  24. ↑ "BNP MP's Attack". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  25. ↑ "BNP cadres force halt of publication on Kushtia daily". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  26. ↑ "Kushtia paper not published for week over MP's threat". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  27. ↑ "BNP cadres ransack Khoksa Press Club". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  28. 1 2 "I will win in polls for news against me". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  29. ↑ "Attack on Journalists". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  30. ↑ "Lawmaker Shahidul". The Daily Star. 4 June 2006. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  31. ↑ "5 Kushtia journos get bail". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. UNB. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  32. ↑ "Bombs hurled at BNP MP's motorcade". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  33. ↑ "Khaleque denies allegation". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  34. ↑ "'BNP lawmaker creates reign of terror in Kushtia'". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  35. 1 2 "MP Shahidul apologises to journalists for attack". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  36. ↑ "Former BNP lawmker among 119 accused in five cases". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  37. 1 2 Correspondent, Our; Kushtia (2008-11-12). "Absent ex-BNP MP Shahidul Islam addresses people thru' phone". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  38. ↑ "Relief goods seized from ex-deputy minister Dulu's village home". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  39. 1 2 "Ex-MP Shahidul's nephew arrested in Khulna". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  40. ↑ "NBR wants cancellation of duty-free car import by MPs". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  41. ↑ Bss, Dhaka (2007-09-10). "Ex-BNP MP Prof Shahidul submits wealth report to ACC". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  42. ↑ Hasan, Rashidul; Kushtia, Amanur Aman from (2008-12-15). "CG conspiring to make country a failed state". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  43. 1 2 "Bangladesh Parliament Election - Detail Results - Amar Desh Online". 2018-04-18. Archived from the original on 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  44. ↑ "new age". Retrieved 2022-10-30.
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