Some people of Cumilla, along with a section of the Awami League, started supporting former Chhatra League leader AKM Bahauddin Bahar in the '80s to usher in a new era of young leadership and counter the influence of late party heavyweight Afzal Khan's family in regional politics. Little did they know what was ahead of them.  

Since defeating Afzal in the 1984 municipality chairman polls, Bahar established a group loyal to him – an era marred by murder accusations against Bahar's followers until his ouster along with the Awami League regime last August.  

Bahar allegedly used muscle power to take control of the government institutions in Cumilla to build his fortune through irregularities, tender manipulation and extortion in the real estate, transport and other sectors, along with illegal drug dealings.

Former Cumilla-6 MP Bahar's luxurious triplex house in Munsefbari, a 10-storied building housing Cumilla City Awami League office in Ramghatla, and Cumilla Club in the Town Hall premises that Bahar and his people used as their own office were torched during the fall of the AL regime last August. Bahauddin Bahar and his daughter Tahsin Bahar Suchona reportedly fled to India after the political changeover. 

Nizam Uddin Kaiser, former convener of Swechchhasebak Dal's Cumilla City unit, told The Daily Star that Bahar created a sense of panic among the people. "They don't believe that Bahar can't make a comeback because his accomplices in crime are still unharmed and staying in different areas of the city," Nizam said.

MURDERS

After being elected municipality chairman, Bahar focused on strengthening Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in late '80s, with his supporters' activities centring on Cumilla Victoria College, Cumilla town and Sadar Upazila. 

Nearly a decade later, in 1998, BCL leader Jahid Babu was killed allegedly in an infighting between Bahar's followers.

Obaidul Haque Dulal, former general secretary of BCL's Victoria College unit, then left Bahar's group, accusing the Awami League leader of assisting the killers of Jahid.

After three years, Dulal was himself murdered. 

His uncle Kabirul Islam Shikder, an Awami League leader and former president of Cumilla District BCL, said, "Bahar's political career is based on the support of my brother Shafiqul Islam Shikder and other family members. But Bahar's men were involved in killing Dulal."

Even before his rise, Bahar was allegedly involved in the murder of Sharif, a JaSoD-Chhatra League leader from Dishaband village, in late 1973, said leaders of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSoD). Sharif was among three people killed in a firing on a procession at Rajaganj Sonali Bank Mor.

Delwar Hossain, a former organising secretary of Cumilla District BCL, was murdered on November 26, 2018. Police have submitted the charge sheet against ward-26 Councillor Abdus Sattar, a vice-president of Swechchhasebak League's Cumilla City Unit and follower of Bahar.

Another follower of Bahar, ward-27 Councillor and president of the AL's ward unit, Abul Hasan, was made prime accused in a case over the murder of local AL leader Zillur Rahman Chowdhury on Nov 11, 2020.

Both councillors Abdus Sattar and Abul Hasan reportedly run smuggling syndicates along the border with India. The fortunes they made from illegal businesses thrust them into top posts in the AL despite having any past affiliation with the party.

Before Zillur's murder, a local businessman named Akter Hossain was killed in an attack on July 10, 2020 allegedly by ward-23 Councillor Alamgir Hossain, then joint convener of Cumilla City Jubo League who was close to Bahar. Alamgir was able to monopolise the land business at Kotbaria since he was blessed by Bahar, locals said.

On November 22, 2021, Councillor Syed Mohammad Sohel and Awami League activist Haripada Saha were shot dead in broad daylight. Three of the accused -- Shah Alam, Sabbir Hossain and Sajon  -- were supporters of Saiful Alam Rony, husband of Bahauddin Bahar's daughter Tahsin Bahar Suchona. The three accused were killed in so-called gunfights with police later.

The latest victim of violence by Bahar's followers is Jamil Hasan Arnab, a staffer at the Satata Paribahan counter in Cumilla's Shashongachha bus stand. He was on his way to the counter when a bullet snatched his life during clashes between rival groups over control of the stand on March 15, 2024. Both groups were reportedly backed by Bahar.

INTOLERANT

To establish his sole authority over extortion, land-grabbing, illicit drug trade and tender manipulation, Bahar took control of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies by appointing his relatives and followers to the top posts and making it difficult for his rivals in the party to carry out political activities.  

His followers in the party controlled the 27 wards under the city corporation and six unions of Adarsha Sadar upazila.

In 2022, Bahar was elected as president of Cumilla City Awami League. Arfanul Haque Rifat, a Bahar loyalist, was elected general secretary, and daughter Suchona organising secretary of the committee. Bahar also filled the other posts with his followers.

Suchona was nominated by the Awami League as its candidate for Cumilla City Corporation mayor's post in 2024. Suchona won the election, but the other candidates alleged widespread voter intimidation. Bahar's armed cadres were seen patrolling areas surrounding the polling stations.

Nur Ur Rahman Mahmud Tanim, an Awami League leader and former vice-president of Cumilla Victoria College Students' Union, said, "MP Bahar did not give any chance to his rivals in the committees or elections because he could not tolerate any dissent."

TENDER EXTORTION

Contractors in Cumilla alleged they had to pay commissions to Bahar after winning tender bids.  

Local Awami League leader Masudur Islam, who is loyal to Afzal Khan's daughter and former reserved seat MP Anzum Sultana Sheema, was injured in an attack after attempting to submit his tender bid at the Education Engineering Department on April 1, 2024.

The attackers were allegedly led by Bahar's followers Jahirul Islam Rintu and Sadekur Raham Pias, president and general secretary of Cumilla Swechchhasebak League, respectively.

Masudur, who was bedridden for months after the attack, said, "They broke my hands and legs for not giving a 10 percent commission."

GRABBING PROPERTIES, BUSINESSES

Bahar and his people occupied different public and private properties in Cumilla city allegedly by using muscle power or unjust contracts. They were reportedly involved in illegal sand extraction from the Gomti river.

He constructed a four-storey market on Town Hall's land under a 30-year contract. As the lessee, Bahar has been paying only Tk 2 lakh per year.

A trader of the Town Hall Super Market, requesting not to be named, said, "The actual rent of the market should be several crore taka a year. The commercial value of the property has been neglected in this contract."

Recently, the district administration took control of the Town Hall market and asked the traders to deposit rent to the Town Hall's account. 

Bahar also tried to demolish the old Town Hall building and construct a high-rise there.

His political rival late Afzal Khan's daughter Sheema alleged that Bahar illegally occupied Cumilla Modern High School and Bangabandhu Law College established by Afzal.

"He [Bahar] did it only over political rivalry. He abused his power," Sheema said.

Former Jatiya party MP Ansar Ahmed and former schoolteacher Monindra Babu were allegedly forced to give up their land for Bahar's 12-storey market in Monohorpur.

Another landowner, Rashedul Rusel, alleged Bahar forcefully shut down his shops as Rusel refused to give his land. "He [Bahar] harassed me by making me accused in different cases in the last six years."

The ten-storey building housing Cumilla City Awami League office at Ramghatla was known to be allotted to Cumilla District Muktijoddha Sangsad.

District Muktijuddha Commander Shafiul Alam Babul alleged they were forced to hand over the land under pressure.

Bahar also targeted the famous Liberty Cinema Hall at Kandirpar. Several cases were filed over land ownership dispute and documentation fraud centring the building.

Monzur Kader Moni, councillor of ward-10, who was close to Suchona's husband Rony, made a fortune with bribes taken for building plans as he was appointed as a member of the Building Plan Committee of the city corporation.

No one dared to counter Moni in the last city polls as Rony threatened others who had planned to submit nominations.

Besides controlling tenders in different department, Rony also grabbed cable TV and internet businesses in Cumilla. He allegedly built teen gangs to establish his control.

Cumilla AL General Secretary Rifat and Abdullah Al Mahmud, who were loyal to Bahar, were listed as top drug dealers in Cumilla under Chattogram division.

The Prime Minister's Office sent a letter along with the list of top drug dealers of Chattogram division to the home ministry in January 2018, requesting investigation and action against those on the list.

After the fall of the AL government, several cases have been filed Against Bahar, Suchona and Bahar's followers on charges related to fatal attacks on protesters during the student-led mass uprising in July-August last year.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against Bahar on January 20, accusing him of acquiring illegal wealth worth Tk 67.43 crore. Suchona was also sued on charges of acquiring Tk 3.05 crore illegal wealth.