SUNAMGANJ — A former president of the Pathariya Union BNP in Sunamganj’s Shantiganj upazila, Abdul Mamin, is accused of seizing a passenger shelter and demolishing it to build a road for his private market. The move has severely inconvenienced pedestrians and passengers in Pathariya, along with students of Surma High School and College.
Local businessman Angur Mia filed a written complaint with the Sunamganj district administrator and the Shantiganj upazila executive officer.
In the complaint, he said Abdul Mamin, an influential person in Pathariya, since last December seized the passenger shelter at the Pathariya Bazar bus stand — the only refuge for pedestrians and students — to build a road on the east side of his home to a large market. After seizing the shelter, he gradually demolished it to build a road to his private market. Pathariya area students, pedestrians and passengers are now suffering severely. Many at Pathariya Bazar objected, but Abdul Mamin ignored them. As a result, there is now a shortage of seating space for passengers and students waiting for vehicles or shelter from sun and rain.
Complainant Angur Mia inspected the site and requested that the passenger shelter be reclaimed and rebuilt for public use.
Local Pathariya village resident and former union parishad member Nur Mia said: “There was a government passenger shelter at the Pathariya bus stand. Area students, pedestrians and long-distance passengers used to sit there. But Mamin Mia seized and demolished it.”
Gazinagar village resident Ziauddin Tuhin said: “The Pathariya Bazar passenger shelter is a very important facility for bazar passengers, pedestrians and Surma School and College students. It is essential that this important facility be freed from occupation and rebuilt.”
The accused, Abdul Mamin, denied the allegation. “The accusation brought against me of demolishing the passenger shelter is completely false and fabricated. While the passenger shelter was set up by the government, the land is my own. I don’t know who demolished the shelter. It had been abandoned for a long time,” he said.
Shantiganj Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Shahjahan said after receiving the complaint, an investigation committee led by an assistant commissioner has been formed. After receiving the report, necessary legal action will be taken.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report