Jessore 6 MP Md Shaheen Chaklader has found himself in hot water after he was heard in a recorded conversation allegedly asking the Keshabpur police station OC to frame a lawyer by bombing the station.
An audio clip of the alleged conversation over the phone has gone viral on social media, creating much criticism from different quarters.
Sources said Shaheen, also the Awami League’s district unit general secretary, had advised OC Md Jasim Uddin to teach lawyer Saifullah a lesson for filing a complaint about a brick kiln in Keshabpur.
He also reportedly suggested that plainclothed police officers could bomb any brick kiln and then Saifullah can be accused in a case for trying to rob that kiln by carrying out a bomb attack.
Shaheen was also heard in that audio clip mocking the High Court’s order regarding the kiln.
According to sources, this conversation between Shaheen and OC Jasim over the phone took place a couple of weeks ago.
The lawmaker did not receive calls when tried to reach him for comments on this matter.
Asked about the conversation, OC Jasim said: "I don't remember. Why are you [journalists] asking the same question again and again? I talk to the MP every day on many issues. I don’t remember everything.”
Shaheen Chaklader was elected MP in the by-election of Jessore 6 constituency on July 14, 2020. He also served as the chairman of Jessore Sadar Upazila Parishad from 2009 to 2020.
Saifullah said that a brick kiln named Super Bricks, which is next to his house at Uttar Satbaria village under Keshabpur upazila, is polluting the area. “That’s why I organized a movement with the villagers.
“After the movement was covered by local and national newspapers, NGO Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association [Bela] filed a writ petition at the High Court in the public interest. Bela then elected me as the network member and I started joining their programs.”
Saifullah said the Keshabpur police OC had called him to the station on December 12 last year, and told him: “The MP [Shaheen] does not want you to work against the kiln. You should stay away from that. Otherwise, you will be in danger.”
He said the OC also told him: “Your own life comes first, why are you involved in these? Stay away. Otherwise, Mr Chaklader will have you framed [in false case] through me or another police station OC.”
"Afterwards, I contacted Bela chief Syeda Rizwana Hasan and local journalists from the police station around 10pm," said Saifullah. “After she made some calls, the OC had escorted me home. That is all I know. Now an audio clip of their conversation is circulating. I have not listened to that yet.”
