Awami godfather Firoz held ultimate power over Bauphal

Awami godfather Firoz held ultimate power over Bauphal

In addition to facing opposition from rival factions, dissenters within his party found themselves compelled to abandon their homes amid a wave of attacks and legal challenges. He maintained a tight grip on the political landscape, overseeing everything from the nomination of candidates for local government elections to the allocation of party positions.

He wielded complete control over all matters, while his relatives demonstrated an unwavering determination to seize government and private lands.

ASM Firoz, a former lawmaker of the Awami League, served as the whip in parliament.

Firoz has held the position of president of the Upazila Awami League for an impressive duration of over 45 consecutive years. A former MP is accused of assembling a group of 70 to 80 individuals known for their involvement in acts of torture. Teachers, freedom fighters, and government officials alike have not been exempt from the reach of this gang.

During a civic reception, Firoz boldly said: ‘I don’t need crests; I need cash.’

In 1979, ASM Firoz made his debut in politics, being elected as a member of parliament (MP), representing the Awami League. Since then, he has been an MP in every session except 2001. In 2014, Firoz was appointed as the chief whip of the tenth parliament.

Following the collapse of the Awami League government on August 5, he entered hiding, only to be apprehended in the capital’s Banani area on August 23.

Raihan Sakib, Firoz’s eldest son and a member of the Awami League’s international affairs subcommittee, declined to comment on the allegations surrounding his father.

AKM Farid Mollah, Firoz’s younger brother, dismissed the allegations as a ‘conspiracy and baseless’.

He asserted that Firoz and other family members are not implicated in any corruption. Firoz is not affiliated with any gang; instead, he is recognised as a politician with a clean image.

Farid Mollah remarked that his election as MP on eight occasions is a testament to the public’s affection for him.

Firoz’s favourites emerged as public representatives. 

ASM For an extensive period of 45 years, Firoz maintained a firm grip on the political landscape of the Awami League in Bauphal. In addition to his political endeavours, he held exclusive authority over the management committees of 67 madrasahs, 339 primary schools, 61 secondary schools, 14 colleges, and various other institutions. He would also oversee the recruitment processes of these institutions.

Since 2008, it has been nearly impossible for anyone to secure a position as a public representative in Bauphal upazila without establishing a connection with Firoz. His supporters would compel individuals to cast their votes for Firoz’s candidates. Firoz’s backing emerged as crucial in securing victories for local government positions.

 At times, securing a party nomination may prove ineffective. Firoz successfully appointed an individual as union parishad chairman on three separate occasions, even though this person had never been able to secure a position as a member.

Reports indicate that among the 15 unions and one pourashava in Bauphal, all UP chairpersons, except those from Bauphal pourashava and four unions, align themselves with Firoz.

In 2012, Md Ziaul Haque, also known as Jewel, secured the position of mayor in Baufal pourashava, defeating his opponent, Firoz, as a member of the District Awami League. In response, Firoz initiated a series of legal actions against him and his associates, prompting them to abandon the area. In 2022, Ziaul reclaimed the position of mayor.

Jasim Uddin Farazi, the former general secretary of the upazila Awami League, criticised Firoz for promoting individuals from rival parties to leadership positions rather than recognising the contributions of long-standing party veterans who have dedicated themselves to the cause.

Abdul Motaleb, the current general secretary of the Upazila Awami League, informed Prothom Alo that Firoz strategically took control of the presidential position upon entering politics in 1979. He has continued to hold the position since then. Firoz’s relationships with the general secretaries of various committees were notably strained.

Legal actions against those who oppose

According to sources within the Awami League, an incident occurred on March 8, 2016, when Firoz’s gang targeted several local leaders, including then upazila parishad chairman Md Mujibur Rahman, Daspara union chairman Jahangir Hossain, and Nowmala union chairman Shahjada Hawlader, in the presence of the district commissioner and police superintendent.

In a shocking incident, Abdul Motaleb Hawlader, the secretary of the Upazila Awami League, was brutally attacked, resulting in severe injuries to his fingers and right leg. Mahamud Hasan, the organising secretary of the District Jubo League and chairman of Boga Union parishad, was assaulted in front of Firoz.

Mujibur Rahman stated in an interview with Prothom Alo that Firoz consistently places his interests above all else. He consistently prioritised the embezzlement of public funds, neglecting any actual responsibilities. Firoz and his gang launched an assault on two chairpersons in Uttar Pradesh, targeting them for voicing their dissent.

SM Yousuf, the former organising secretary of the Upazila Awami League, stated that he established a rebel committee in response to the protests from the Upazila Chhatra League against Firoz’s actions.

In a significant legal move, he has brought charges against more than 200 members of the Awami League, including the president and secretary of the authorised committee of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, across 25 separate cases. A significant number of individuals were compelled to evacuate the region.

Land acquisition practices

Firoz’s relatives are accused of seizing land adjacent to a canal in the Merchant Potti area, located within the Chandradwip union of Bauphal. They reportedly built 15 shops and a two-story structure on the property. Firoz’s brother Farid Mollah has built a pucca structure on 28 decimal acres of land in Daspara mouza, where he operates a business.

Mokbul Ahammad, a resident, has alleged that Farid Mollah seized a portion of his land 14 years ago, which Ahammad had acquired through a court order in 2004.

Farid has refuted the allegations, asserting that he purchased 21 decimal land from a different individual and has been operating a business on the site.

Md Shamim Mollah, a former president of the upazila Swecchasebak League and cousin of Firoz, is accused of seizing public land to construct a three-storied supermarket at Kalaiya Bazar. Firoz has built an Awami League office in the Garur Haat area, utilising government land for the construction. Following the events of August 5, BNP leaders and activists have assumed control of the office.

In 1995, Firoz founded a secondary school in the Chandra Dip union, then established a primary school 2017 bearing his name.

According to legal requirements, an individual must contribute 1.5 acres of land to establish a secondary school and 33 decimals for a primary school if they wish to find these institutions under their name. However, Firoz needed land in these regions. There are allegations that Firoz seized approximately two acres of land from three brothers to establish schools.

Jafar Khan, the son of land-donor Sikandar Ali, informed Prothom Alo that his father and uncles contributed land to establish two educational institutions, a union parishad and a community clinic. However, none of the institutions have been named in their honour. Firoz deceived them into relinquishing their lands and established the institutions under his name.

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