He has faced longstanding allegations of land grabbing, controlling sand extraction sites, corruption and irregularities

Gazi Nazrul Islam has long been a prominent and controversial figure in the politics of Satkhira.

His political journey has taken several turns, beginning with his alleged involvement in the armed wing of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), known as Ganabahini, during his youth, before later joining Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

He was elected three times as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Satkhira-4 constituency (Shyamnagar and parts of Kaliganj).

However, he has recently returned to the spotlight after allegations of moral misconduct emerged following the circulation of a video on social media.

After the video went viral, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami expelled him from the party.

The incident has reignited public discussion about his political rise, past activities, and various allegations made against him over the years.

According to locals, Gazi Nazrul Islam was associated with Ganabahini, the armed wing of JASAD, in the years following Bangladesh’s independence.

During that period, he was allegedly involved in the looting of weapons from the Burigoalini Naval Police Outpost in Shyamnagar and in the killing of a police officer in Harinagar village of Munshiganj Union in 1974.

He later left Ganabahini and joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Over time, he became an influential leader within the party and was elected three times as MP from the Satkhira-4 constituency. As a lawmaker, he maintained significant political influence in Shyamnagar and Kaliganj for many years.

Soleyman Kabir, former convener of the Shyamnagar Upazila BNP and a member of the Satkhira District BNP, alleges that during Gazi Nazrul Islam’s tenure as an MP, he engaged in land grabbing, controlled sand extraction sites, and committed irregularities in various development projects.

Kabir further claims that Gazi Nazrul Islam controls sand quarries in the Assasuni and Shyamnagar areas.

He also alleges that the former MP’s son has been extracting sand in a risky manner in Atulia Union of Shyamnagar, potentially increasing the area’s vulnerability to flooding and other environmental disasters.

Kabir also alleges that irregularities occurred in the implementation of a development project worth approximately Tk300 crore during Gazi Nazrul Islam’s tenure as MP between 2001 and 2006.

He further claims that Gazi Nazrul Islam was arrested by the joint forces in 2007 over corruption allegations.

Although Gazi Nazrul Islam identifies himself as a freedom fighter, he is not listed in the official government gazette of recognized freedom fighters.

Local freedom fighters claim that he did not participate in Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

Abu Zahid Dublu, member secretary of the Satkhira District BNP, said that although Gazi Nazrul Islam claims to be a freedom fighter, he did not actually take part in the war.

According to him, no freedom fighter from Satkhira has witnessed his participation in the Liberation War.

Following the circulation of the video, locals organized protest marches, human chains, and demonstrations against Gazi Nazrul Islam in Shyamnagar.

The procession marched through the town’s main roads before concluding with a human chain and rally in front of the Upazila Press Club.

Many demonstrators carried photographs of Gazi Nazrul Islam and symbolic brooms while chanting various slogans.

Participants from different unions said they felt betrayed after voting for him and called for a fair investigation into the allegations and appropriate legal action.

Masum Billah, general secretary of the Sundarban Press Club, said that such an incident involving a three-time former MP was beyond the expectations of the general public.

Human rights activist Madhab Chandra Dutta said that allegations of this nature against an elected representative should be investigated impartially.

Multiple attempts were made to contact Gazi Nazrul Islam for his response to the allegations. However, no comment had been received from him by the time this report was published.

Attempts were also made to contact leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami at both the Shyamnagar Upazila and Satkhira District levels, but they did not provide any statements.

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