July killing accused Kamal Hossain, who is the owner of JRK Colour and Chemical Industries Ltd in Gazipur, is still out of reach.
There are allegations that Kamal, also a close aide to former chief of the Special Branch (SB) of Bangladesh Police Monirul Islam, is also accused of occupying land illegally. But the law enforcement agencies have not taken any action against him.
Locals said being a close friend of Monirul Islam, Kamal Hossain is the in-charge of the chemical factory, which is being run in partnership with Monirul Islam. The factory was built 10 to 12 years ago on about 10 bighas of land in the Bandakhola area of Tumulia union in Kaliganj upazila. Although Kamal Hossain is shown as the owner in the documents, but the real owner of the company is Monirul Islam.
It is learned that a person named Shamim, who is a close friend of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's deputy press secretary Ashraful Alam Khokon. Shamim works as the caretaker of the factory. In addition, local Union Parishad chairman and Awami League leader Abu Bakkar Bakku has been regularly helping the factory in exchange for financial benefits. There are also allegations of land grabbing by exerting influence against them.
According to the information, in 2022, about four bighas of land were purchased in Parabartha area of Nagri Union with the funding of Kamal Hossain and Monirul Islam. But another 5-7 bighas of land nearby were forcibly occupied where a warehouse and cattle farm were built.
Contacted, Kamal Hossain, who is in charge of the chemical factory, said that he does not know anyone by the name of Monirul Islam, the former chief of SB police.
He is the 39th accused in a murder case during the student uprising in Gazipur. When asked about it, he became angry.
Dr. Md. Asadul Islam, an inspector of the Explosives Directorate, said that they will look into the issue of the legality of the factory.
Gazipur Police Superintendent Dr. Chowdhury Md. Jaber Sadek said that if there is any complaint of land grabbing, the police will take legal action.
