Chaos in Companiganj: Businesses hit hard

In most restaurants of Companiganj's Basurhat, an instruction is clearly written on the walls: "Conversations over politics are strictly prohibited."

But what seems is that politics controls everything in Basurhat, the municipality which drew attention of the whole country after recent activities of Abdul Quader Mirza, younger brother of ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and consequent clashes between two factions of ruling AL that left two people dead.

Two people, including a local journalist, were shot dead during clashes over establishing dominance in the area. One group was led by Basurhat municipality Mayor Quader Mirza and another by Mizanur Rahman Badal, organising secretary of Companiganj upazila AL.

Locals said they have never seen so much use of firearms before in Basurhat.

The worst sufferer is the businesses there. Political clashes, mayoral election, use of firearms, killings, hartal, and section 144 -- all took a heavy toll on businesses. The traders said they have incurred losses in crores of taka in the volatile political situation in Noakhali's Companiganj over the last two months.

The Daily Star came to know that after visiting and talking to at least 30 traders in Basurhat Bazar, the main business hub in Companiganj, where there are around 6,000 wholesale and retail shops.

Atul Chandra Bhowmick, who runs his family business -- Moumita Pharmacy -- one of the oldest pharmacies in Basurhat area, said it was established around 109 years ago.

"In the recent past, we have seen so much violence and use of firearms in Basurhat. Customers now fear to come here. Today, I am getting the time to talk to you [journalists] because of this. In other days, you wouldn't get a chance.

"Earlier, if we could sell Tk 70,000-80,000 a day. Now it is down to Tk 3,000 only," he said.

He said there are around 200 pharmacies, including 30-40 wholesalers. All are incurring a heavy loss following the volatile political situation in Basurhat.

Wholesale grocery shop owner Shayon Chakrabarty, proprietor of Jaykali Bhandar, said they used to sell Tk 1,00,000 a day earlier. Now it is Tk 20,000-30,000.

Pintu Mazumdar, manager of New Apon Jewellers in Basurhat's New Market, said they have been incurring losses since the coronavirus hit the country. But the recent political clashes have worsened the situation.

"Women are our main customers. They fear to go out. Earlier, we could sell Tk 5-6 lakh a day. Now we can't even sell Tk 50,000," he added.

Another jewellery shop manager Md Sohel of Aradhona Jewellers said they failed to sell a single ornament in the last three days.

Visiting the area yesterday, these correspondents saw a lot of law enforcers in different parts of Basurhat municipality area. But there were fewer people in the markets.

Traders said Sunday and Thursday are the "haat" days in Basurhat Bazar. This 200-year-old market used to be filled with hundreds of customers and wholesale traders from different places -- Kabirhat, Dagonbhuiyan, Dudhmukha, Chowdhuryhat, Rongmala, Sonagazi, Chaprashihat, and Char Elahi.

The market is now almost empty, they said, adding that people now instead go to markets of adjacent upazilas.

Talking to The Daily Star, Nazim Uddin Nizam, general secretary of Basurhat Baboshayi Samabay Samity, said, "In every haat day, there would be a transaction of Tk 100-150 crore here. Now it's 4-5 crore. It's hard to differentiate when it is a haat day or a normal day here."

He said the political situation in Basurhat became unstable since the mayor election.

"Earlier, rallies and counter rallies were held on the streets of the bazaar. But for the last few days, these turned into clashes. We don't know how it will impact local politicians. But traders are the worst victim. Please save us," Nizam said.

"On March 8, traders of Basurhat saw people wearing helmets using firearms on streets. You know what happened the next day. Such a heavy gunfight for around 45 minutes targeting the Basurhat municipality office … we have never experienced such a situation here. Earlier, the shops remained open till 11:00pm to 12:00am. Now the dreadful atmosphere compelled us to close the businesses by the evening," Nizam added.

After the clash on March 9, almost all the shops in Basurhat Bazar have remained closed for the last three days, he added.

"Now, a huge number of law enforcers -- Rab, detectives, intelligence -- are present. They may be here for our security. But it's a threat to our business too. Customers from other places now avoid Basurhat.

"Also, some trade leaders are in fear of arrest in political cases. You see, in every case there are 150-200 unnamed accused. Some traders here may be followers of the two political groups in Basurhat," he said, adding that five traders of the market were picked up on Friday night who were followers of Quader Mirza.

The shop owners want immediate intervention of local MP Obaidul Quader to make the situation normal.

"PLOT TO KILL ME"

At a press conference at Basurhat municipality office yesterday, Quader Mirza alleged that a conspiracy was going on to kill him.

"On Friday night, a meeting was held at Ekramul Karim Chowdhury's Kabirhat house to plan to kill me. Police and the local administration are working against me. Everything is going on one-sided.

"I am not thinking about my security, but about my activists. Our 25 activists suffered bullet injures in the last attack. But police picked up eight of our activists," he alleged.

Talking to reporters, MP Ekramul, whose follower is Quader Mirza's rival Badal, said Mirza's allegation came from his imagination.

"Quader Mirza's allegation is baseless," he added.

Badal was arrested on Thursday.

Mir Jahidul Haque Roney, officer-in-charge of Companiganj Police Station, told The Daily Star that the overall situation is under their control. The situation is now better, he added.

About arresting people in the name of unnamed accused, he said, "No arrest has been made without specific charges. Raids against illegal firearms are going on."

In another development, pointing fingers at Obaidul Quader's wife, Mirza in a Facebook post in the evening hinted her role for worsening the relationship between brothers.

Quader Mirza also posted two photos with his brother.