Former member of parliament from Dhaka-4 constituency Syed Abu Hossain Babla does not own any industry in the Shyampur Industrial Area (Phase-1), yet he has held the position of president of the industry owners’ association since 2015.

Not only Babla, but also some influential individuals, including his nephew Sheikh Masuk Rahman, Awami League leaders Shahin Ahmed Jabu, Azizur Rahman Aziz, and Tajul Islam, hold significant positions in the Shyampur-Kadamtali Shilpa Malik Samity, despite lacking any industry ownership or membership in the association.

Before Babla, former MP from the constituency, Sanjida Khanam, was the association's president, despite not being a member or owning any industry there.

According to section 4 of the constitution of the Shyampur-Kadamtali Shilpa Malik Samity, only industry owners can be members of the association and eligible to contest its elections. However, neither the local MP nor the four other leaders are listed as members, as per the association’s provided membership and industry lists.

Asked whether he has any industry in Shyampur Industrial Area, Babla insisted that he has but could not provide the name and address of his industry.

Analysing the affidavit he submitted to the Election Commission during the last general election, no evidence was found that he was the owner of an industry in the industrial area.

According to the list of executive members, Joint Secretary Sheikh Masuk Rahman is the owner of Dhaka Oxygen which is located at Plot-1 under Road-1 but the existence of no factory was found after visiting the address and talking to local businessmen.

Contacted, Masuk admitted that his maternal uncle Babla owns the plot and he has a share there. “I had an oxygen company which was sold out because we couldn’t make the business profitable.”

Tajul is vice-president, Aziz office secretary and Jabu sports and cultural affairs secretary of the 21-member owners’ association.

All is for scrap business?

Industry owners alleged that some influential politicians have grabbed important posts in the association to control the scrap business worth Tk several crore and establish their supremacy over owners and workers.

They also alleged that until recently, some influential politicians, including Babla’s nephew Masuk, forcefully took away rod, steel, copper, and cable scraps from nearly 100 factories.

This correspondent talked to 20 owners of the industrial area.

Wishing anonymity, an industry owner said Masuk’s men take away scraps from his factory against their will. “They come to my factory every two months and forcefully take metal scraps amounting to 500kg-700kg on average. They give us Tk10-Tk20 per kg though the actual price is Tk90. But we can’t lodge any protest in fear for our lives. They’re members of armed groups. "

Another owner said, “We’re helpless as Masuk is the nephew of Babla. We’re now hearing that another influential politician is going to take an important post in the association though he is not the owner of any industry.”

He also said, “My factory produces 450kg-500kg scraps every day. The group takes those giving prices whatever they want. However, they haven’t come yet after the general election.”

After the constituency got a new MP in Md Aoland Hossain through the last general election, incumbent secretary of the owners’ association Sirajul Islam Siraj issued a letter asking businessmen not to allow anyone to take scraps from factories until a new committee is formed.

“As a new lawmaker is elected, a new committee will be formed. Before the formation of the committee, don’t sell scraps or drums or cartons, old machinery, iron metals, or any other goods to anyone. If any syndicate or anyone seeks money, don’t pay any,” reads the letter, a copy of which the Daily Sun obtained.

In the letter, the roadside shopkeepers were also asked not to pay any money to anyone.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Siraj said, “In no association, outsiders can be members and leaders but only in our organisation, there are many leaders who have no industry.”

Asked why the outsiders are interested in being leaders of the association, he said it is definitely for financial benefit but could not say in detail how they benefit by using the positions.

When asked over the phone, Masuk trashed all the allegations as baseless. “These are false. Please tell them to talk to me. I’ll see who can make such claims in front of me.”

When asked about his membership in the association, he said, “I’m not bound to explain what is written in our constitution.”