Extortion again?

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya yesterday opposed a proposal to stop extortion by party men in the name of observing the National Mourning Day programmes, sources said.

Maya, also general secretary of the Dhaka city Awami League, even sought to know where the party activists would get the money to observe the programme if the party didn't contribute.

He also said if party men were barred from extorting money, they would have to come to party leaders for it, added the sources.

The issue of extortion was raised at a joint meeting between AL's city unit and its associate bodies at party chief Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office to chalk out the programmes to mark the 40th death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15.

AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday convened the meeting that decided to observe the occasion with 40 days' programmes.

In recent years, banners, festoons, posters and archways popped up all over the city ahead of August 15 to promote party men who spent money on them, rather than mourning Bangabandhu, who was assassinated with most of his family members on that day in 1975.

Besides, distributing food among poor people on the day has become a norm.

A day's programme in a city ward costs about Tk 10 lakh. There are 49 thana, 103 ward and 17 union units under the city AL and each of these units holds several programmes on the occasion.

After yesterday's meeting, Ashraf said the party wanted to observe the day with a united force of the nation this year.

The programme would begin with placing of wreaths on Bangabandhu's grave at Tungipara on August 1 and end through a mourning procession on September 9.

Ashraf directed the party's front organisations to propose their programmes, which will be finalised in consultation with the party chief.

At the meeting, Ashim Kumar Ukil, AL deputy publicity affairs secretary, placed a proposal to stop party activists' extortion and to control setting up of so many archways by party men for self promotion, sources said.

The party will have to face criticism for such activities, Ashim added.

But Maya rejected his proposal and said the way the AL had been observing the programme should continue. He also claimed party men erect archways without any ill intention and this practice should not be stopped, according to the sources.

Mahabub-Ul-Alam Hanif, AL joint general secretary, supported Ashim and said no extortion would be tolerated in the name of observing the national mourning day and that the party high-ups didn't want to hear any complaint against any party man.

He added they had received several allegations of extortion by party men last year, meeting sources told this correspondent.

The Daily Star tried to reach Maya over the phone last night but his phone was found switched off.

Contacted, Hanif said they had already directed all the leaders of associate bodies to monitor their activists so that no allegation rose against them.

"We will go for tough actions if we get any specific allegation against anyone," he added.

Before the National Mourning Day last year, Maya sent letters to different business organisations and institutions, seeking sponsorship for decorating 27 road dividers of the city on the occasion of August 15.

The same year, the Chhatra League central unit didn't give permission to its Jagannath University unit to observe the occasion, fearing it would lead the unit to extort money. The BCL had also summoned several units, following allegations of extortion and asked them to refrain from such activities.

Though August 15 is a mourning day, for some AL men the day has become an occasion for celebration and an opportunity to make money out of it.

AL sources said there were some "parasitic organisations" that used the party's name to indulge in extortions and that it was difficult for the party to contain them.

MA Aziz, acting president of Dhaka city AL, admitted that the meeting discussed the alleged extortion of party men ahead of the national mourning day.

The party will strictly monitor workers and leaders so that it does not happen, he added.

"We have to observe the day solemnly because this is an emotional day for us. We don't want to observe any programme that causes sufferings to anyone," he added.

Asked about party fund for observing the day in ward level, Aziz said they donated some money for the programmes. "But the amount is too small.”