Gono Odhikar members forcefully take over sports club office in Khulna

Local leaders of the Gono Odhikar Parishad have forcefully taken over the office of a local sports club called the Panchabithi Krira Chakra located at Shantidham Mor in Khulna. 

At around 2:30pm this afternoon, Gono Odhikar members reportedly broke open the club's lock and went in. They later removed the club's signboard and put up a banner under their own name which reads "Gono Odhikar Parishad, Khulna Metropolitan and District Office." 

The move regarding the occupation, according to local BNP leaders, was made in the style of the former ruling party Awami League (AL).

"We received various complaints about gambling and immoral activities taking place at the club. We repeatedly warned them, but no action was taken. Therefore, with the support of locals, we have taken control of the club. From now on, no unethical activities will be allowed here," General Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad's Khulna unit Sheikh Rashedul Islam told the media. 

He further mentioned that applications have been submitted to the Public Works Department and the divisional commissioner to lease the club.

When asked about why they broke the lock and put up the banner, Rashedul said, "We repeatedly asked the club to vacate the premises, but they ignored our requests. So, we took this step with the support of locals. The banner was put up to provide the correct contact information."

Contacted, Md Nazmul Islam, acting general secretary of the Panchabithi Krira Chakra, denied the allegations saying, "We have been managing the club with government allocation for a long time. The club had been closed for the last six months. Breaking the lock and entering the premises is completely illegal. We will take legal action."

Condemning the incident, Shafiqul Islam Tuhin, member secretary of Khulna Metropolitan Unit BNP, said, "We have seen the fascist Awami League government taking control of different places and looting in this same manner. Now, the leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad have started taking control of places in the style of the Awami League. This will create chaos in the society. The BNP never supports such misdeeds. We are strongly against all kinds of occupation and looting."

This evening, after the incident, leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad were seen guarding the club. They approached and questioned anyone found loitering in front of the club. If someone tried to take pictures, they were obstructed. When they saw journalists, they threatened them, reports our correspondent. 

The  Panchabithi Krira Chakra office, situated on the second floor of a government-owned building allotted by the Public Works Department in 2010, was operating from this location for the past 14 years.