No “Hasina-style” elections will be allowed in Chattogram Samiti

Md. Kamal Uddin    |    ০৫:৪৫ পিএম, ২০২৫-১১-১০

On Monday, 10 November 2025, an extended meeting of the Chattogram Samiti-Dhaka Conveners Committee was held at the Bangladesh Shishu Kallyan Parishad building on Topkhana Road. The meeting was presided over by the Convener of Chattogram Samiti, former student leader M. A. Hashem Raju, and conducted by the Member Secretary, Deputy Attorney General and former student leader Farid Uddin Khan. Delivering the keynote speech, the Convener of the Advisory Council of Chattogram Samiti, renowned Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Momen Chowdhury, stated that for the past 17 years, the Samiti has been controlled by the associates of the “murderer Hasina”—former ministers, fascist leaders Hasan Mahmud, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, and others including S. Alam, Biplob Barua, Gias Khan, Mozammel Hiru, Rahul Barua, A. Mabud, and other Awami League affiliates involved in criminal and fascist activities. He further alleged that the financiers of the fascist Awami League, including Nasir Uddin (Chairman & Managing Director of Chittagong Builders & Machinery Limited) and Zainal Abedin Jamal (Director of Al-Arafa Islami Bank and Social Islami Bank, under S. Alam’s control), have embezzled hundreds of crores of taka in the name of loans and transferred the funds to countries like Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada. After the mass uprising against the dictator Hasina on 5 August, Zainal Abedin Jamal allegedly attempted to infiltrate Jamaat-e-Islami while switching political allegiance from Awami League. Chowdhury called for vigilance and urged the interim government to take legal action against these individuals. He added that for the last three decades, some individuals have illegally occupied the Samiti-Dhaka, embezzling hundreds of crores of taka without legal authorization. To continue their misappropriation, they have announced a so-called election which has no legal basis. Members of the Samiti are urged to remain alert and resist this attempt. In his speech, Convener M. A. Hashem Raju said that those who tarnished the 113-year-old glory of Chattogram Samiti over the last two decades must face justice. Over the past 17 years, hundreds of crores of taka have been embezzled, depriving the people of Chattogram of their rights. He emphasized that the Samiti is not the property of any fascist group and that a peaceful but firm movement will be organized to ensure accountability. Deputy Attorney General Farid Uddin Khan stated that no fair or acceptable election can be held using the current voter list. Over the past 20 years, nearly 2,000 voters are employees of Chattogram Builders, who were allegedly added to maintain the owners’ influence. The Samiti has been used as a business hub, expanding opportunities through secretarial and administrative access. Furthermore, supporters of the fascist Awami League were included as voters, while BNP, Jamaat, and Hefazat supporters were excluded. Therefore, a new voter list will be prepared to hold a transparent election, and no “Hasina-style” election will be allowed in the Samiti. Other speakers included Joint Convener and Life Member Mir Dost Mohammad Khan, Life Member Dr. Selina Akter, Joint Convener of the Committee Nasir Mizan, Joint Member Secretary Mobinul Islam, Md. Nasir Uddin, Finance Committee Convener Advocate Nazim Uddin, Reception Committee Convener Shahjahan Montu, Discipline Committee Convener Monzur Morshem Mamun, Joint Convener Mufti Maulana Jasim Uddin, Member Engineer K. M. Imtiaz, and Head of the Information & Research Cell K. M. Akkas.