Failure to curb extortion, land grabbing 'ominous sign' for govt: TIB

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over looting, vandalism and occupation of the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur, clashes between two factions of the BNP in Kishoreganj over control of a waterbody, and the vandalism of a content creator's office.

In a statement today (27 September), TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said such incidents were not isolated but part of a broader pattern, and warned that failure to curb land grabbing and extortion could have serious implications for the government and the ruling party.

He called for exemplary accountability of those involved in the incidents and urged the BNP to take effective organisational measures to address allegations of extortion, land grabbing and abuse of influence among its members.

Referring to the Radda MCH-FP Centre incident, Iftekharuzzaman questioned what message the ruling party was sending by allowing a charitable organisation that had provided healthcare to disadvantaged women and children for decades to be vandalised and occupied, allegedly under the patronage of a reserved-seat lawmaker and in the presence of police.

He also questioned whether BNP policymakers were considering the consequences of what he described as ongoing land grabbing and extortion by sections of the party's leaders and activists.

According to TIB, allegations of land grabbing, extortion and the expansion of political influence by sections of BNP have emerged across the country since the political change in August 2024. The organisation said such allegations have involved bus terminals, footpaths, markets, waterbodies, sand quarries, haats and markets, cable and internet connections, and waste collection businesses, among others.

Referring to the clashes between two local BNP factions over control of a waterbody in Kishoreganj and the vandalism of a creative studio, Iftekharuzzaman said the incidents were part of a continuing pattern since August 2024.

"These are not isolated incidents, but merely a continuation of events that have occurred since August 2024," he said, according to the statement.

He warned that if the government failed to take effective corrective measures in line with its anti-corruption commitments, it could eventually lose the ability to control such activities.

TIB also alleged that although the ruling party has taken organisational action, including expulsions, against some members involved in such activities, weak preventive measures and the alleged political links of those involved have limited effective action by law enforcement agencies.

The organisation urged the authorities to investigate each incident properly and bring those responsible to exemplary punishment.