Special Report

Kansat People won't Forget Specter of 3 Months of Atrocity
Rabiul Hasan

Is it possible to throw the chronicle of an unprecedented atrocity of the law enforcers at Kansat into oblivion even after a decade or hundred years?

The answer is an absolute 'no'.

Though the government at last nodded to Kansat demands and the entire region is flooded away with the majestic fervor of emancipation, yet the panic that once choked is still haunting the Kansat locales like a nightmare.

Lets have a flash back to Kansat movement.

Aiming to uproot the multifaceted irregularities of Palli Bidyut Samity, the people of Kansat formed 'Palli Bidyut Unnayan Sangram Parishad'.

The people's defense began functioning from August 31 and faced untold police assault on January 4 for the first time.

That day during a hem in protest at the Palli Bidyut office, two of the agitators- Mohammad Kajal and Nayan Karmakar- were shot dead.

Following the incident Rural Electrification Bangladesh (REB) authorities filed two separate cases, which seemed to add fence to the already ignited fuel. All Kansat locals tied a strong knot with the movement.

Amid such turmoil, convener of Sangram Parishad Golam Rabbani was arrested with joint convener Jahir Chowdhury and nine of the activists.

The information of police arrest of Rabbani and his associates led the villagers to fortify against the administration.

Demanding immediate release of the arrestees Kansat people put up a blockade placing wood logs and electric poles over Chapainawabganj- Sonamasjid highway.

Even that day police was as aggressive as ever before. Their indiscriminate firing of bullets left at least seven people dead.

They were Anwarul (25), Quimul Islam Garibullah (38), Nasir (35), Anwarul Islam Babu (14), Daud Ali, Abdul Mannan and Anarul (28).

But police bullets could not hold the power hungry dwellers back. The unabated movement of Kansat people compelled the government to set the nine arrestees free.

Later came the question of dialogues between the power deprived and oppressed Kansat people and the government. Phases of meetings held but with no result.

All efforts of reaching a logical conclusion to the abyss of crises were foiled for the dill-dally tactics and conspiracy of the government.

Sangram Parishad once again announced protest-program for the realization of their demands. They took to street again with stick procession on April 6 which local BNP intended to counter through another protest meeting.

That day Akram Dad Khan, Mahbub Rahman, Abdul Qader Jilani, Anwar and Sayed were exterminated. Government adopted the hard line and vowed to avert from any sort of dialogue with Sangram parishad.

Heavy Contingents of police and BDR were deployed. Kansat dwellers were left within the gridlock of section 144. Police adopted a coercing strategy. Three people were killed at police massacre.

With Babu and Abdur Rahman Master, a 10 years old child Anwar had to die with bullet wounds.

Following such untold butchery of police government seemed to stir a bit.

Government formed a conciliatory committee and agreed to meet all the demands signing a contract with the Sangram Parishad.

However, Kansat, the once threshold of peace and harmony has turned into a slaughterhouse, the fresh blood of the martyrs have not dried up. The fire that once lit up can never be extinguished.

Yet, the defeat of the government has faded some parts of the sorrow away.

Brother of the deceased Abdul Qader Jilani told journalists, 'the sorrow of loosing a brother can never be quelled, but the victory made me feel proud'.

Widow of Abdul Mannan is leading her life with the assistance of her neighbors, the triumph has brought some consolation to her irreparable loss.

But, the determination that she achieved through the movement is still in force, ' land of Kansat will be burst into flames if the demands have not been met up within the next one month.'

Anwar's parents Moinul Islam, Monwara Begum and Kajal's mother Anwara Begum echoed with the widow.

They said the hilarity would be finely tuned if the local MP Shahjahan Miah would quit his JS seat.



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