They return to homes damaged in mystery attacks, listed as yaba traders

An attractive duplex locates beside a road at Baharchhara Lengur Beel area four kilometers away to the west from Water Fountain in Teknaf municipality. An excellent gate is in the front. The gates of this house inside and outside were broken two and half years ago. Zafar Ahmed left the house. His name is in the list of yaba traders. By renting out the house, he now lives in a rented house nearby.

Six kilometers away to the south from this house of Zafar Ahmed, there are brick chips lying from the vandalised gates and boundary wall of Syed Hossain's duplex in Nazirpara of Sadar union of the upazila.

His house was also vandalised. Now boundary wall has been made with corrugated tins. Syed Hossain's name also in in the list of yaba traders. After 18 months of surrender with yaba and arms, he was released on bail. He now lives in this house.

Mysterious attacks were carried out on these two houses. Owners of these houses alleged these attacks were carried out under the leadership of death row convict and Teknaf police station suspended OC Pradeep Kumar Das. Zafar Ahmed and Syed Hossain claimed they are not involved in yaba trade.

Around 80 small and big houses including two duplexes in Teknaf have been damaged, local people have said.

All have now returned home, except for one. A total of 45 houses have been repaired while 34 have been repaired partially. Some have been left in a state of disrepair.

Owners of all the houses are named in the list of yaba trader prepared by the police.

Police sources said the number of yaba traders in Cox's Bazar is 1250 and some 912 are in Teknaf alone.

Residents alleged these houses were vandalised in harsh attacks, termed 'mysterious attack'. The attacks were carried out under the leadership of former OC Pradeep.

At the time nobody dared to talk about it. Residents returned home after Pradeep Kumar Das was arrested in a case filed over the murder of retired major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan on 31 July 2020.

They said they would file a case over the attacks and torturing of women of their families.

Locals alleged such attacks were carried out after Pradeep joined as OC on 20 October 2018. Pradeep uploaded video message in social media Facebook. In the video, he said all yaba traders in Teknaf would be arrested. Attacks would be carried out in their houses. Certain houses and cars may be set on fire. Afterwards panic engulfed the entire Teknaf.

Zafar Ahmed's house at Lengur Beel area of Baharchhara was vandalised on 27 June. He is vice president of Teknaf upazila unit Awami League. He was former chairman of upazila parishad. His name is in the list of yaba trade by the police. The house was repaired after 17 months of damage. At the time Zafar and his family members returned. However, they don't live at that house. The house has been rented out to a non-government organisation. Zafar Ahmed and his family lives in another house in Pallanpara of the municipality.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Zafar Ahmed said the house was vandalised and blamed OC Pradeep for this.

This correspondent talked to Syed Hossain in front of his house in Nazirpara. He is a member of Ward 8 of Sadar union. His name is in the list of yaba traders of police.

Syed Hossain claimed there was no case against him. He surrendered in fear of crossfire after his name appeared on the list. He, however, declined to say anything about recovered yaba and arms.

55-year-old Syed Hossain claimed he built the house with the money earned abroad. The house damaged under the leadership of OC Pradeep has nearly been repaired. Now he has a chicken farm, and deals in salt.

Another duplex has been found beside a road in Moulvipara area of Sadar union two kilometers away along Shah Porir Dwip of the municipality. Its gate and boundary wall are broken. Broken doors, windows and tiles are lying inside. Most of the rooms have no wall. Walls of corridors in the front on the second floor have been built anew. Nobody was found inside the house.

Locals said certain Abdur Rahman in the locality belonged to this house. He lives in Dubai. His family lives in Chattogram town.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Abdur Rahman's father Fazal Ahmed said this house was vandalised in the attack led by OC Pradeep. Although they were in fear, now they are preparing to file a case.

In the same area Ziaur Rahman was killed in a reported gunfight. His mother Noor Begum talked to Prothom Alo in front of his damaged duplex. All doors and windows in the back and fronts are broken. The gate and boundary walls are in the same condition. The repaired only the main gate and are living there.

Noor Begum alleged Pradeep carried out this surreptitious attack on the second day, 21 October 2018 of his joining Teknaf police station.

She also alleged not only attack on the house, the people, who came along with Pradeep, tortured her and her two daughters-in-law. They received treatment in the hospital for a week. Later they were sent to the jail on possession of yaba which had been planted on them by the police. While they were in the jail, after 26 days into the attack, her son Zia was detained from Gopalganj and killed in reported gunfight.

Noor Begum claimed his son would deal in salt and cattle.

She said she would now file a case against Pradeep on charges of torture and attack on the house.

Teknaf police station officer-in-charge Hafizur Rahman said nobody filed a case in connection with attacks on the houses. He said they would carry out investigation if cases are filed.

Names of most of the owners of the vandalised houses are on the list of yaba traders.

When asked whether yaba trading increased after their return, the OC said they are investigating this. Surveillance has been increased so that they cannot get into in yaba trading.

Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Teknaf upazila general secretary Abul Hossain said if they are narcotics traders, they should be brought to book.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, he said it is an offence to torture members of the families. This should be investigated and it should be found out who carried out the mysterious attacks.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo online edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.