Tension mounts at BMS office

CHITTAGONG, April 20: Tension mounted among two groups of freedom fighters (FFs), centring locking of the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad (BMS) Chittagong district command office Saturday.
A group of freedom fighters, under the banner of BMS Chittagong city unit, held a protest meeting in front of the office. It was presided over by former unit commander Muzaffar Ahmed, also convenor of Bangladesh Muktijuddher Chetona Bastabayan Moncho, a newly-formed forum of FFs
The meeting raised allegations of widespread corruption against BMS former district commander Mohd Sahabuddin, and broke open the locked office.
Later they locked up the office, and handed the key to acting commander and deputy commissioner (DC) of Chittagong Mesbah Uddin. He has been the acting commander of the unit since June 26, 2013 when its elected committees were abolished.
However, former deputy commander of BMS Chittagong district unit Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury and assistant commander A K M Sarwar Kamal Dulu said they were sitting inside the office Saturday evening to contact with other FFs of the unit.
They alleged that a group of people broke open the office and locked it, so that the BMS district unit leaders cannot enter into the office.
FFs, who came to the office, found the BMS city and district offices locked. Then policemen arrived at the scene, and requested them to leave, as the offices remained closed.
Muzaffar Ahmed said the FFs brought charges of widespread corruption, extortion, nepotism and embezzlement of BMS fund against Shahabuddin.
 "He has looted money from Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra, owned by general freedom fighters of Chittagong," Muzaffar alleged.
Meanwhile, the DC of Chittagong said the FFs in Chittagong have long been divided, and Saturday's clashes were outcome of that division.
He said he would take necessary measures with the help of the magistrate and law enforcers.