Just three days after their programme marking the martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August was foiled, the central office of Bangladesh JSD on Topkhana Road has been served a notice to vacate.
On Tuesday, the party alleged that the government did not stop at halting their programme and is now pressuring the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad to initiate the eviction of their office.
The party, which has rented space in the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad building for about eight years, was served the vacation notice on Monday. The notice instructed them to clear arrears of 150,000 taka for seven months of rent and 1,530 taka for utility bills, and to vacate rooms 514 and 516 within the next two months.
However, Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad General Secretary Mohammad Monirul stated that the notice was issued due to unpaid rent and disruptions to the institution’s normal operations. Meanwhile, Sheikh Zahidul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of the Ramna Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), denied allegations that police gave any directives or advice to the landlord.
Earlier, Bangladesh JSD had accused authorities of disrupting their discussion meeting scheduled for 15 August to observe the martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The party alleged that police took positions at their central office on that day in connection with the event.
Consequently, Bangladesh JSD was unable to hold its scheduled programme. Receiving the office-vacation notice three days later has led the party to draw a connection between the two incidents.
Mushtaq Hossain, a member of Bangladesh JSD’s standing committee, said, “The government did not stop after foiling Bangladesh JSD’s 15 August programme. The government is now pressuring the Shishu Kalyan Parishad to initiate efforts to evict the Bangladesh JSD office.”
Notice Issued Due to ‘Arrears and Safe Environment’
The notice, signed by Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad General Secretary Mohammad Monirul, stated that Bangladesh JSD’s recent political activities are disrupting the council’s normal operations. It also noted that this is creating a crisis in running the institution.
The notice mentioned that verbal concerns were expressed by the office of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner regarding Bangladesh JSD’s activities. Therefore, they were requested to pay the arrears of rent and utility bills and vacate the rented premises within two months.
When asked about the matter, Mohammad Monirul said that Bangladesh JSD has not been paying rent regularly. Since the institution operates for children with disabilities, the rental income is spent on various activities of the organisation.
“First of all, they are not paying rent regularly. Our institution is run for disabled children. Their treatments also take place here. These are supported by the rent money,” he said.
Monirul also emphasised the importance of ensuring a safe environment for children. According to him, the DMP informed them that a secure environment for children is not being ensured in the building. He added that a similar message was conveyed regarding the office of Nagorik Oikya, led by Mahmudur Rahman Manna, which is located in the same building.
Police Deny Responsibility
Although the Shishu Kalyan Parishad’s notice mentioned verbal advice from the DMP Commissioner’s office, police denied giving any instructions to the landlord.
Sheikh Zahidul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of the DMP’s Ramna Division, said, “I have heard about the landlord issuing the letter. However, nothing was said to the landlord by the police. That is not true.”
Bangladesh JSD has been using rooms 514 and 516 on the fifth floor of the Shishu Kalyan Parishad building on a rental basis for nearly eight years.
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