60-year-old traditional football tournament stopped for not making Chatra Dal leader chief guest

Maruf Ali, Upazila Chatra Dal leader, has been accused of stopping a 60-year-old traditional football tournament in Lalpur of Natore by making false announcements through microphone that Section 144 has been imposed after organisers refused to make his preferred political leader the chief guest in the final. The incident took place in Keshabpur village of the upazila, creating anger and tension in the area. District Chatra Dal has issued a show-cause notice to the accused third joint convener of upazila Chatra Dal Maruf Ali following the allegation.

Local sources said a football tournament has been organized for nearly six decades in Keshabpur village on the initiative of local residents. As per tradition, elderly people of the village hand over the prizes to the winning and losing teams in the final of the tournament. Political or administrative persons are usually not invited as guests in it.

The tournament started about 15 days ago this year as well. Several teams of students from local schools, colleges, madrasas and universities took part in it. The final of the tournament was scheduled to be held after Jumma prayers on Friday.

Organisers alleged that from the beginning of the tournament, Chatra Dal leader Maruf Ali had been pressuring them to make former mayor of Gopalpur municipality and former convener of municipal BNP Nazrul Islam Molam the chief guest and himself a special guest in the final. However, the organizers did not agree to it to maintain the long-standing local tradition.

It has been alleged that becoming angry over this, Maruf Ali hired a microphone on his own initiative and carried out publicity in the village around 11am on Friday. It was announced in the microphone that the administration has imposed Section 144 on the playground apprehending dispute and games and sports have been banned there.

Such publicity spread confusion and panic in the area within moments. Later the organizers were also forced to withdraw from organizing the game. At one stage, tension was created in the area and police was deployed to control the law and order situation.

Village head Abul Kalam Azad said Section 144 cannot be imposed in any area without the order of an executive magistrate. He alleged that a long-standing traditional event of the village has been stopped and the social environment has also been damaged due to the false publicity of a Chatra Dal leader.

However, the accused Maruf Ali refused to make any comment on Section 144 regarding the allegation.

Former mayor Nazrul Islam Molam said he has no involvement with the incident. He said the incident of stopping the game is highly condemnable. Maruf is being called and asked to explain the matter.

Second joint convener of Lalpur upazila Chatra Dal Abu Rayhan said this is Maruf Ali’s personal criminal activity. The organization will not take responsibility for it. District Chatra Dal has already taken organizational measures against him.

General secretary of district Chatra Dal Maruf Islam Srijon said Maruf Ali has been asked to give a written explanation on the allegation of creating disorder while holding a responsible post. Organizational measures will be taken against him if the reply is not satisfactory.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lalpur Police Station Shafiqul Islam said police was sent to the spot after receiving the information and the law and order situation has been kept normal. However, no written complaint has been received so far from the organizers or any victim. Legal measures will be taken after investigation if a complaint is received.