Shopkeeper alleges Jamaat leader threatened to lock his business over BNP support

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader has been accused of threatening to lock the shop of a young man, Abdur Rashid, in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, for wanting to vote for the sheaf of paddy symbol.

The Jamaat leader is Abul Kashem, Ameer of Bhurulia Union Jamaat in Shyamnagar upazila. Abdur Rashid hails from Dargahpur village in Bhurulia. In the Satkhira-4 (Shyamnagar) constituency, BNP candidate Dr Md Moniruzzaman is contesting with the sheaf of paddy symbol, while Jamaat candidate Gazi Nazrul Islam is contesting with the scale symbol.

Abdur Rashid said he had attended a rally of the BNP candidate on February 9 along with other locals. Learning of this, on Tuesday, Jamaat leader Abul Kashem, alias Jehadi Kashem, threatened to lock his shop in Shyamnagar after February 12. On Wednesday morning, Kashem also allegedly attempted to assault Rashid when he found him in front of his house.

However, Abul Kashem denied the allegation. He claimed, "I have a friendly relationship with Abdur Rashid. I said such things jokingly. Since Abdur Rashid took the matter seriously, I have apologised to him unconditionally."

When asked about the matter, Shyamnagar Upazila Jamaat Ameer Abdur Rahman said, "Both the person who was threatened and the one who issued the threat are our people. Our union leaders are looking into the matter."

Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khaledur Rahman said no complaint had been lodged at the station regarding this matter.

Assistant Returning Officer Shamsuzzahan Konok said no written or verbal complaint regarding such an incident had been received until this evening. "If we receive a complaint, necessary action will certainly be taken," he added.