Expelled Gono Odhikar leader refuses to vacate Khulna club he took over forcefully
A Gono Odhikar Parishad leader, who has been expelled from the party for taking over a sports club office in Khulna by force, now refuses to give up possession of the office.
The leader, Gono Odhikar Parishad Khulna unit General Secretary Sheikh Rashedul Islam, accompanied by his followers, formed a human chain in front of the office today (28 January) and claimed that they took control of the club office "by maintaining all legal procedures".
The office, located at a building in the Shantidham Mor in Khulna city, belongs to a local sports club called Panchabithi Krira Chakra.
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Yesterday 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 read "Gono Odhikar Parishad, Khulna Metropolitan and District Office."
After news of the incident was published in various media outlets, the central committee of Gono Odhikar Parishad issued a press release last night, expelling Rashedul, who led the occupation of the office.
Shakil Uzzaman, central office secretary of the party, said, "Since its establishment, Gono Odhikar Parishad has always protested against occupation, extortion, and criminal activities. The party never tolerates anyone in the party who is involved in such activities. Therefore, Sheikh Rashedul Islam has been dismissed from the party for being involved in activities against the party's constitution."
Meanwhile, regarding the occupation of the office, Rashedul said, "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 took control of the club.
He also 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."
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.
