NCP Opens District Office in Former Awami League Leader's Building in Jhalakathi, Sparking Debate

The district office of the National Citizen Party (NCP) has been inaugurated in a building owned by Liaquat Ali Talukdar, former president of Jhalakathi municipal Awami League (activities banned) and former mayor. Since the office was opened on Wednesday (21 October) on the third floor of the building on Court Road in the town, the matter has been the subject of discussion and criticism in local political circles and on social media.

The chief guest at the inauguration ceremony was Dr Mahmuda Mitu, reserved women's seat MP and joint chief organiser of the NCP's southern region. The special guest was Masuma Hadi, sister of martyr Sharif Osman Hadi. The event was chaired by Jhalakathi district NCP convener Engineer H M Zakir Hossain. After the inauguration, an NCP signboard was hung on the building and party activities began.

According to local sources, the building is owned by Liaquat Ali Talukdar, former president of Jhalakathi municipal Awami League and former municipal mayor. In the past, the municipal Awami League office was on the third floor of the building. That office had been inaugurated by the then minister and Awami League presidium member Amir Hossain Amu.

After the NCP office opened, curiosity has arisen among locals as a new party began activities at the same place as an old political office. Many are also commenting on the matter on social media.

Mithu Talukdar, son of building owner Liaquat Ali Talukdar, said party activities were conducted on that floor of the building when his father was municipal mayor and municipal Awami League president. At the same time, as mayor, people from different parts of the town came to his father with various problems; he listened to them and tried to solve the problems.

Mithu Talukdar said the municipal Awami League office closed many years ago. The third floor of the building had lain vacant for a long time. Later, when the NCP contacted them about renting the place, it was rented out to them. He added that the NCP did not rent any old party office; rather, it rented a vacant flat in the building. He therefore believes there is no reason to unnecessarily complicate the matter.

NCP southern region joint chief organiser Dr Mahmuda Mitu said they have rented a room on the third floor of the building to use as a party office, and party activities will be conducted there from now on. What activities took place in the building before is not a matter of consideration for them. Personally, she said, she is not aware whether any political party had an office in the building before.

Several local residents claim that after 5 August, Liaquat Ali Talukdar was arrested and sent to jail. After his release, they believe he is in hiding, though they also claim he is occasionally seen in Jhalakathi.

According to local sources, during the Awami League government, Liaquat Ali Talukdar served as municipal mayor for a total of 10 years over two terms. During the same period, he was also president of the Jhalakathi municipal Awami League.

Meanwhile, several local residents have expressed suspicion that Liaquat Ali Talukdar may have a political motive behind renting the building space to the NCP. They believe he may be looking for an opportunity to become active in politics again through this. Some of them also claimed that a comparatively low rent was taken from the NCP.

However, no independent evidence has been found for these local claims and allegations. Both the building owner's family and the NCP have presented the rental as a normal commercial agreement. All in all, discussion continues in local political circles over the NCP's new office opening in the building of the former municipal Awami League office in Jhalakathi.