Moulana Karim ibn Mosobbir, a former central leader of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, has urged the two factions of Tabligh Jamaat to resolve their differences and reunite ahead of the upcoming Bisswa Ijtema. In a statement, he said differences of opinion among Islamic scholars could be a source of mercy, but conflicts that lead to division, groupings could never be considered a blessing.

Referring to past incidents of violence at the Bisswa Ijtema grounds in Tongi and inside mosques in different places, Moulana M A Karim urged the senior leaders of both sides to set aside their grievances, meet each other and reach an immediate reconciliation.

The core mission of Tabligh Jamaat, he said, is to guide people towards the path of Allah and encourage them to reform their lives in accordance with Islamic teachings.

"Before the upcoming Bisswa Ijtema, both sides should clear their hearts of all grievances, meet one another, resolve their differences and reunite," he said, expressing hope for a reconciliation.

Mohammad Abu Sayeed, Deputy Chief Revenue Officer of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Dhaka WASA), has faced allegations of irregularities, corruption and the accumulation of substantial wealth by allegedly exploiting his political connections during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government. The allegations against him include collecting regular payments from subordinate officials, irregularities in postings and transfers, concealing assets, and transferring money abroad. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.

According to the complaint, several members of Abu Sayeed’s family were involved in Awami League politics. His elder sister, Nurjahan Majumder, reportedly served as vice-chairperson of Muradnagar Upazila Parishad in Cumilla and president of the upazila unit of the Awami Mohila League. His younger sister was reportedly a vice-president of the Dhaka North City unit of the Awami Mohila League, while his elder brother served as a vice-president of the Cumilla North unit of the Jatiya Sramik League. His father was also reportedly a vice-president of the Awami League unit in their local union. The complaint further claims that Awami League Presidium Member Bahaunddin Nasim is his maternal uncle-in-law. The complainants allege that these political connections helped him exert influence within the organisation.

Allegations of a Syndicate and Regular Payments in the Revenue Division
According to a complaint submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Abu Sayeed allegedly established a network of irregular practices within Dhaka WASA’s revenue division. He has been accused of regularly collecting money from revenue inspectors under his supervision and forwarding a portion of the proceeds to SM Mostafa Kamal Majumder, who served as the organisation’s chief revenue officer at the time.

The complaint alleges that money collected from different WASA zones was distributed among members of the network. It further claims that appropriate departmental action was not taken despite allegations against him, allegedly because of his political connections. There are also claims that the ACC inquiry remained stalled for an extended period. The current status of the investigation and the positions of the officials concerned, however, need to be established.

Questions Over the Sources of His Wealth
Questions have also been raised about assets allegedly held by Abu Sayeed and members of his family. The complaint refers to a seven-storey building at House No. 39, Road No. 2, Block L, Aftabnagar, in Dhaka, two vehicles, and land and a bungalow in Cumilla. It also alleges that family members hold fixed deposits worth crores of taka in various bank accounts.

The complainants have called for an examination of whether the value of these assets is consistent with his known lawful sources of income. They further allege that some assets were registered in the names of his wife and children. However, the ownership, acquisition dates, funding sources and relevant banking records must be verified before any conclusions can be drawn.

Allegations of Large-Scale Embezzlement and Overseas Money Transfers
A document reportedly under consideration at the ACC headquarters has been cited in connection with allegations of large-scale financial irregularities involving Dhaka WASA’s development and revenue activities. The allegations include the alleged falsification of memorandum numbers and irregularities involving official postings, reportedly resulting in the acquisition of substantial sums of money.

The complaint refers to document No. 00.01.0000.501.01.014.22 and inquiry report No. 62/2022, identifying Assistant Director Mohammad Nur Alam Siddiqui as the investigating officer.

The allegations also include transferring illicit funds abroad and preparing to leave the country. However, these claims cannot be treated as established facts without corroborating financial records, official findings or confirmation from the relevant authorities.

New Posting Sparks Discontent
According to the information provided, Abu Sayeed was posted as Deputy Chief Revenue Officer in Administration Division-I of Dhaka WASA on October 12, 2026. The appointment has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among some officers and employees of the organisation.

Calls have been made for an impartial investigation into the allegations, verification of the sources of his assets, and greater transparency in the posting process.

Statements from the authorities concerned, an update on the ACC inquiry, and an opportunity for Abu Sayeed to respond to the allegations would help establish the facts. Ensuring accountability if the allegations are substantiated, while protecting the reputation of the accused if they are not, remains essential to the pursuit of justice.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that the current opposition parties have started a new drama in the name of street protests to conceal their internal conflicts and failures. He made the remarks on Saturday (October 17) at a protest rally in front of the National Press Club in the capital. The Nationalist Textile Engineers Association of Bangladesh (JTEB) organized the rally to protest what it described as planned anarchy and conspiracies by the Awami League across the country.

Addressing the rally, Rizvi said that newspapers were filled with complaints from opposition parties, which, he claimed, constantly repeated their grievances without paying attention to national development or public welfare.

He alleged that the opposition parties were looking for excuses to take to the streets to cover up their internal disputes, factional conflicts and failures. According to him, they were staging political dramas under the guise of various programmes.

The BNP leader further said that while the country was going through various crises, the opposition parties were attempting to mislead the public instead of playing a constructive role. He accused them of prioritizing their political positioning over the interests of the country and the welfare of its people.

Rizvi on the Consequences of Authoritarian Rule
Referring to the consequences of authoritarian rule, Rizvi said that no ruler could ultimately escape the consequences of injustice and misrule.

“History bears witness that when people rise up on the streets, rulers responsible for wrongdoing are forced to flee,” he said, adding that authoritarian forces that had attempted to cling to power by force in Bangladesh had also been compelled to leave.

He further stated that no one could remain in power indefinitely through injustice and repression. According to Rizvi, no political force could maintain its hold on power permanently by disregarding people's rights.

He emphasized the need to prioritize public interests and democratic values in political activities.

Call to Ensure Security During Durga Puja
Rizvi also stressed the importance of ensuring a safe and peaceful environment for members of the Hindu community to celebrate Sharadiya Durga Puja.

He said Durga Puja, the principal religious festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, had begun. He added that BNP leaders and activists at all levels had been instructed to remain alert and vigilant to ensure the festival was celebrated with maximum security, religious solemnity and peace.

According to Rizvi, party leaders and activists across the country were maintaining constant communication to help ensure that members of the Hindu community could celebrate the festival without hindrance.

He also underscored the importance of maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of everyone during the religious celebrations.

Emphasis on Establishing the Rule of Law
Highlighting the importance of establishing the rule of law, Rizvi said that no wrongdoer would be allowed to escape justice.

“There must be no return to a reign of betrayal and killings in this country,” he said, adding that justice for all crimes would be ensured through the law and the courts.

He stressed that ensuring accountability for crimes and establishing the rule of law were essential to maintaining peace and stability in the country. He also called for a firm stand against wrongdoing to ensure justice.

Leaders from Various Organizations Attend Rally
The rally was chaired by JTEB President Engineer Md. Fakhrul Alam.

Other speakers included BNP Central Committee member Riaz Uddin Mishu; Bangladesh Nurses Association Secretary General Jahanara Siddiqua; Nationalist Cultural Alliance leader Rakibul Islam; Diploma Engineers Association Secretary General Kazi Sakhawat; Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal Vice-President Dr. Zahidur Rahman; and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Vice-President Dr. Tawhidur Rahman Awal.

Leaders and activists from various professional organizations also attended the rally. The speakers discussed the country's political situation, public interests and the importance of establishing the rule of law.

Barishal: Residents of Banamali Ganguly Women’s Hostel at Government Brojomohun College in Barishal experienced severe fear and insecurity following the reported presence of an unidentified man near the hostel late Thursday night.

At approximately 11:50 p.m., the hostel’s night guard reportedly spotted the unidentified man near the pond beside the hostel and called for assistance. As news of the incident spread, the resident students came downstairs in fear and searched the surrounding area together. However, the man could not be found.

According to the students, police personnel from a nearby police outpost arrived at the hostel following the incident. However, their presence did not ease the students’ concerns. Instead, the students alleged that some police personnel made teasing and inappropriate remarks directed at them while performing their duties, leaving them feeling further distressed and uncomfortable. Statements from the relevant authorities would help establish a fuller picture of the incident.

The students said that a female teacher who was staying at the hostel subsequently supervised the situation. Following the incident, the frightened residents remained on the ground floor and took turns patrolling in groups throughout the night. They questioned why female students living in an institutional hostel had to stay awake and guard themselves instead of being able to rest and study in a secure environment.

The residents expressed concern about the safety of their accommodation, emphasizing that their parents had sent them to college with high hopes and confidence in the institution. They questioned how their families could remain reassured if their daughters were unable to feel safe within their own educational institution. According to the students, ensuring a secure environment for living and studying is one of the primary responsibilities of the college authorities.

The students also raised concerns about the effectiveness of the hostel’s existing security arrangements. Despite having a night guard, the reported incident has raised questions about surveillance and access control. They called for an investigation into how an outsider could allegedly enter the hostel premises at night, whether the entrance was being monitored properly, and whether there had been any negligence in carrying out security duties.

The residents further questioned why they should have to remain uncertain about their basic safety despite paying session charges and other fees. They maintained that security is not a privilege or a favour but a fundamental right of students. They called for practical measures rather than assurances to ensure their safety.

Their demands include a fair investigation into the incident, stricter monitoring of hostel entrances, stronger nighttime security, proper supervision of the night guard’s duties, and regular inspections of the entire residential area. They also called for an impartial inquiry into the allegations of inappropriate conduct by the police personnel and appropriate action if the allegations are substantiated.

The students clarified that they did not intend to make unjustified accusations against anyone. Rather, they sought transparency, accountability, and effective solutions to their security concerns. They expressed fears that failure to address the situation promptly could leave residents vulnerable to more serious incidents in the future.

The incident at Banamali Ganguly Women’s Hostel has raised significant questions about the effectiveness of security arrangements for residential students at Government Brojomohun College. The residents hope that the college administration will take the matter seriously and introduce effective measures without delay, ensuring that students can live and pursue their education in a safe and fear-free environment.