Shakil Zaman :: Despite being in power for 15 years, grassroots leaders in Sylhet's Awami League remained marginalized. Although they sweated on the streets for the party, influential leaders and their close associates occupied key positions in party committees. Now, in the party’s difficult times, many of these prominent leaders have fled abroad, while the ‘small’ leaders, who lack the resources or opportunity to leave the country, are hiding in fear of arrest. Almost everyday these activists were arrested by the law enforcement force.
During the Awami League's long tenure in power, a handful of leaders and their close circles dominated the party's influence in Sylhet. These leaders, considered ‘hybrids,’ reaped personal benefits while sidelining the dedicated grassroots activists. Many who worked tirelessly on the streets were ignored and treated like members of an opposition party within their own party.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, with Sheikh Hasina fleeing, many of these prominent Sylhet leaders also left the country. There are even rumors that some fled with the assistance of BNP leaders. Most escaped to India initially, before heading to countries like the UK, USA, and various parts of the Middle East. Many of them have families settled in the UK and the USA, where they are now residing safely. Some leaders, still in India, are seeking to move to other destinations.
Meanwhile, the ‘small leaders,’ unable to leave the country, are hiding in Sylhet and other parts of Bangladesh. However, even in hiding, they are not safe. After over two months in hiding, many have been forced to contact family and friends by phone, which has allowed law enforcement agencies to track and arrest them using technology. In the first 11 days of this month alone, at least 10 leaders and activists from the Awami League and its affiliate organizations in Sylhet have been arrested, many of them by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Among those arrested are Shahid Sheikh, president of the 4th ward of the Metropolitan Chhatra League; Azizul Hakim Raju, president of the 16th ward of the Labor League; Abdullah, a Student League cadre from Baluchar; Mir Abdullah, publicity secretary of the Kanaighat Upazila Awami League; Nizam Uddin, agricultural affairs secretary of the Gowainghat Upazila Awami League; Golam Kibria Masuk, joint general secretary of the district volunteer League; and M.H. Ilyasi Dinar, joint general secretary of the Metropolitan Jubo League, along with youth leader Redwan Ahmed Bappi.
One ward-level Awami League leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Even though the party was in power for 15 years, grassroots activists like us saw no change in our fortunes. The influential leaders and their close associates made fortunes while we stayed on the streets for every program. I couldn’t even afford medical treatment and had to ask relatives for help. Now, those who made money through power have fled the country, while we, the small leaders, are forced to flee our homes and hide.”
sylhetview24.com/SZ
