Serious allegations have surfaced against several local Awami League and BNP leaders over the deceiving government of nearly Tk 15 million revenue from the historic Chaugachha cattle market in Jashore during the past four years.
An investigation by the TIMES has uncovered alleged collusion between politically influential figures and market leaseholders, resulting in widespread tax evasion and financial mismanagement.
Records show that in Bengali year 1428, leaseholder Yamul Or Rashid Tito secured the lease for Tk 5.63 million but still owes Tk 2.6 million. The following year, Shamim Reza leased the market for Tk 5.85 million with Tk 5.51 million remaining unpaid. In 1430, Asif Iqbal Bhutto took the lease for Tk 5.95 million but has Tk 3.34 million pending. In 1431, Mizanur Rahman acquired the lease for Tk 8.02 million, yet still owes Tk 958,750.
Altogether, more than Tk 12.4 million remains unpaid to the Chaugachha municipality from these market leases alone. Despite the outstanding dues, municipal authorities have yet to take visible action to recover the money.
Those accused include former mayor Nur Uddin Alam Mamun Himel and his associates, among them Yamul Or Rashid Tito, Shamim Reza, Asif Iqbal Bhutto, Mizanur Rahman, and local BNP leader and Patibila Union Parishad Chairman Ataur Rahman Lal.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year, municipal mayors and councillors were removed, with administrators appointed in their place. Engineer Tasmin Jahan currently serves as the municipal administrator of Chaugachha and has introduced reforms aimed at greater transparency, including an open tender process for the 2025 cattle market lease.
The move triggered renewed tensions over market control. Supporters of former mayor Himel reportedly tried to regain control without participating in the tender, while Abidur Rahman, backed by BNP leaders, allegedly sought to bypass the process, resulting in a legal dispute. As the matter is now pending in the High Court, the municipality is currently collecting all revenue from the market directly.
Local contractor Atikur Rahman Lentu accused the same group of misappropriating market revenue over the past four years, alleging that they failed to pay dues while continuing to collect money.
BNP leader Ataur Rahman Lal denied the accusations, saying: “The cattle market was established on land belonging to both the municipality and my in-laws. I am being falsely implicated because of this. I have no involvement in any financial irregularities.”
Municipal Administrator and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tasmin Jahan confirmed that the matter is under judicial review. “Once we receive the court’s ruling, further steps will be taken based on the legal directive,” she stated.