Chanpara Rehabilitation Center, also known as Chanpara Village, located in Rupganj upazila of Nayayanganj district. However, in this rehabilitation center, spread over large area of Kayetpara Union, cropped up Chanpara Slum. The island-like slum, surrounded by river on three sides and canal on the other, has been turned into the headquarters of drug dealers, smugglers, murderers and other criminals.
Liquor, marijuana, yaba, heroin, phencidil and illegal weapons are traded here openly. Illegal weapons drills are often held for taking the control of this slum, which is regarded as Aladdin's Lamp to many. The sound of random gunshots and firing is a daily occurrence in this slum. At least six people have been killed in clashes in the last year and a half. The investigation revealed that the floating people of Chanpara used to work as day laborers in the beginning. However, in the early eighties, drug trafficking started in the region. In this area, several groups are involved in various crimes including drug trafficking, extortion, snatching money by making people senseless. This slum is also a safe haven for hired killers. In the last few years, Chanpara has become a paradise for drug dealers and criminals as well. Currently, drugs are supplied all over the country from this slum. The 'secret products' is hidden in the small tin houses, half-timbered buildings of Chanpara Slum. There are two and a half hundred drug spots. Most of the slum dwellers are busy selling drugs and weapons. There are four spots for entertainment and anti-social activities.
100,000 people live in this slum. Most of the people living here and involved in criminal gangs are not local residents. They came from different parts of the country randomly and took shelter in this village and became permanent residents. Recently, Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Golam Mustafa Russell was asked about the matter. He said, “Our campaign against drugs is ongoing. Occasionally we make raid to Chanpara.”
According to police and local sources, a man known as Shamsher Member was flourished by controlling the crime world of Chanpara, which is known as inter-district depot of drugs. His words are the last words unwritten law in Chanpara. No matter who the opponent is here, everyone is subordinate to Shamser. Shamser collects 4.5 lakh Taka daily from Chanpara slums. He took two gunmen with the subscription money. His people extorted money by threatening them with guns. And if no one pays the subscription, they become victim of torturing.
Six people have been killed in the last one-and-a-half years due to this competition of dominance. Shamser maintained his dominance under the umbrella of the powerful people and a class of police officers. Even, he has an armed force and a stockpile of illegal weapons under his control. Talking to local residents and public representatives, it is known that in 1974, on 126 acres of Wasa land, arrangements were made to rehabilitate homeless people who lost their homes due to river erosion in different parts of the country. It was named as Chanpara Rehabilitation Centre. Initially, 5,500 families were rehabilitated, but currently the total population of Chanpara is around hundred thousand. There are about 17 thousands voters.
In Chanpara, it is known that the only way to enter this village by land is the sand bridge from Demra. After crossing Balu Bridge, anyone can go to Chanpara. The village is divided into 9 wards. Each ward has numerous narrow lanes. The houses are next to each other. Shitalakshya River runs on two sides of Chanpara and Balu river on one side. Chanpara can be entered by river from neighboring Demra, Noapara and Murapara. There are three entrances to Chanpara. Locals said that most of the drug shipments enter Chanpara through the river. Small and large consignments of drugs are also brought by land. Weapons are also traded here. There are more than 250 identified drug spots inside Chanpara. Police raids don't work here. The network of drug dealers is so strong that the news of the operation reaches the drug dealers in advance. Due to water on three sides of the slum, the criminals were quickly trapped. It is known that at one time the UP member of reserved woman seat Beauty Akhtar alias Kutti was in control of Chanpara. Beauty's husband MA Hasan alias Hasan Muhuri was murdered in late 2017 due to the fight of getting dominance. After two years, Beauty was murdered in June 2019. Zainal, Shaheen, Raja and Anwar were accused in the murder case of Beauty and Beauty's husband. Upazila Awami League member, Kayetpara Union Parishad member and panel chairman Bazlur Rahman took control of Chanpara drug and arms business after the demise of Beauty. According to the police, there are about a dozen cases against him including murder. He recently died in jail. According to multiple sources in Chanpara, in the late seventies, two spots used to sell and consume ganja (Marijuana). Two persons named Shukkur and Ali used to control these two spots. By the early 1980s, the spread of the drug was on the rise. Since 2011, drugs have spread throughout Chanpara. All types of drugs including Yaba, Phencidil, Ganja are sold here. The situation has become worst in the last 5 years. Any type of drug is available on demand. Not only drugs, criminals also choose Chanpara as a haven. In the last two decades, at least 15 people, including a member of the police, have been killed in Chanpara amid the fight for controlling drug smuggling. Several officers of the district police said that two or three cases are reported almost every day. Although there are complaints, the police also get bribes from the drug smugglers of Chanpara.
Local residents said that in the last 10 years, there has been a terrible spread of drugs in Chanpara. Drugs are traded in every road here. A few people are the controllers of it. The local representatives gave them shelter. Because of this, the educated children of the area are getting involved in drug consumption and selling. Drugs are sold in front of the temple. Fighting between drug smugglers is a daily occurrence. Many of the old residents of this village keep their children outside the village. There’re also examples of leaving the village.
17 murders in 44 years: Investigation revealed that 17 gruesome murders have occurred in Chanpara Rehabilitation Center in the last 44 years. However, locals believe that this number could be higher. In 1976, the killing in Chanpara started with the murder of Badsha Mia. Khair Party member Hafeez Ali was murdered in 1979, Parvez Mia in 1982, Chan Mia in 1994, Feroz Sarkar in 2003, Farooq Mia in 2004. Police ASI Hanif Mia and Cricketer Phalan Mia were murdered in 2005, Abdur Rahman in 2008, and RAB source Khorshed Mia in 2011.
On March 12 in 2016, Monir Hossain, the organizing secretary of the Projonmo League, was hacked to death. Aslam Hossain, a school student was killed in January 2017. On November 29 in 2017, Thana Jatiya Party General Secretary Hasan Muhuri was hacked to death. According to sources, there are about 40 hired killers in Chanpara. Chanpara killers are involved in all the murders that was much-talked-about in Rupganj. One time top terrorist of Narayanganj Kamruzzaman Kamu, Anwar, top terrorist of Dhaka Tokai Sagar, Murgi Milon, Picchi Hannan and many others used to roam in this slum. 29 of the 42 murders in Rupganj after 1974 were committed by killers living in these slums. The killers behind murders of sensational industrialist Russell Bhuiyan, Khaled bin Jamal, Tarek bin Jamal, Chhatra Dal leader Shafiqul Islam, Kanchan's Moktar Hossain, businessman Alauddin, suburban contractor Belayt Hossain and most of others accused in various murder cases were linked to Chanpara slum area.
Yaba manufacturing spot: The investigation revealed that a yaba manufacturing factory has been established in Chanpara. According to a source linked to yaba business, women are used for yaba trafficking in Chanpara. These women are bringing Yaba by keeping it in different parts of their body. The female vamp girls of Chanpara come from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar to get training in yaba smuggling. At present three dozen trained women in Chanpara are engaged in yaba smuggling.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on July 8 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
