Pirojpur DC requisitions buses for NCP launch, sparks controversy
CA’s press secretary says govt had no role in the bus requisition
Highlights:
- Copies of requisition orders from Pirojpur DC office surfaces on social media, sparks criticism
- TIB expresses concerns, calls it authoritarian practice
- CA's press secretary says govt had no role in the bus requisition
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Pirojpur requisitioned eight buses to transport representatives of the district's Students Against Discrimination (SAD) to the launching event of the National Citizens' Party (NCP) on 28 February.
The move has sparked widespread debate and criticism.
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According to two separate government orders, the Pirojpur DC placed the buses under his authority and allowed students to use them.
Student leaders who played a major role in ousting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government last year formed the new political party with Nahid Islam, former adviser to the interim government, as convener, and Akhter Hossain as member secretary.
The formation of the NCP had been the subject of speculation for months, particularly regarding its potential ties to state sponsorship. Since last December, BNP leaders have repeatedly warned that a state-backed political party would lack legitimacy.
Copies of the requisition orders from the Pirojpur DC office surfaced on social media a day after the NCP's launch, intensifying the controversy.
When contacted at 11:45 am today for an official comment from the DC, Pirojpur Additional District Magistrate Md Sakhawat Hossain received the phone call and stated that the deputy commissioner was busy.
Sakhawat clarified that the requisitioned buses were provided to students, not a political party, and that the students themselves were responsible for the costs.
What bus owners say
However, bus owners have presented a different narrative. Reports indicate that deputy commissioners from multiple districts pressured bus owners to provide transportation for students attending the NCP event.
One bus company owner from the southern region, speaking anonymously, confirmed that his buses had been requisitioned by the DC office, for which he was compensated Tk20,000 per vehicle for a round trip to Dhaka.
He noted that while political parties have historically arranged transportation for rallies, these arrangements were typically made by the parties themselves, not by district administrations.
He further mentioned that for such trips, at least Tk40,000 is typically charged. The costs for various bridge tolls, driver and helper wages, and fuel amount to Tk20,000, which is considerable.
According to the bus company owner, "The DC of another district managed multiple bus owners to provide at least 15 buses for the participants of the party's inauguration event."
Criticism on social media and elsewhere
The incident has also triggered widespread criticism on social media.
As the debate over the NCP's legitimacy and alleged government involvement continues, questions remain about the role of district administrations in political activities and the broader implications for Bangladesh's political landscape.
Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur held a press conference today, denouncing the NCP as a state-sponsored entity and labeling it the "King's Party."
TIB calls it authoritarian practice
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised concerns over the government's requisition of buses for the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and SAD to attend the inauguration of the NCP.
In a statement, TIB criticised the incident as an "imitation of authoritarianism" and held the interim government accountable for this misuse of power.
The watchdog urged the newly formed party and its supporters to reject such authoritarian practices.
The statement, signed by TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, emphasised that the NCP, formed by student leaders who fought for a "New Bangladesh", carries immense potential to bring about positive change.
However, TIB warned that any repetition of past authoritarian practices would tarnish the party's image and hinder the development of democratic accountability.
The organisation also called on the interim government to stop providing political patronage and avoid supporting such practices.
TIB stressed that the success of the NCP in promoting democratic values will depend on its ability to distance itself from the entrenched culture of power abuse that has long plagued the country's politics.
In response to allegations of state involvement in the new political party's inauguration, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said today that the government had no role in the requisition of buses from Pirojpur for bringing people to Dhaka for the NCP launch event.
"Leaders of the Students Against Discrimination from Pirojpur, along with members of two families of martyrs, requested five buses from the Pirojpur DC," he said during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy today.
"The buses were provided, but there was no government support involved in this," he added.
"They themselves bore the cost of the transportation and fuel," Shafiqul said.
