|| Khaled Ahmed, Pabna: A retired Additional Inspector General of Police (Additional IGP), Md. Shafiqul Islam Shafik, has been accused by his younger brother of allegedly using his influence to seize business premises and property, intimidate tenants and workers, and subject him to harassment in Pabna.The allegations were made by Alhaj Nazrul Islam, who spoke to this newspaper on Tuesday morning, August 25.According to Nazrul, he owns approximately 16,000 square feet of land beside the Pabna-Dhaka highway in the Jafarabad area of Pabna Sadar. Two permanent warehouses, an office room and a semi-permanent press have been built on the property.He said he had leased the premises to Bashir Alam, Head of Material Management of Nabsan Traders Limited, a concern of Akij Resource, at a monthly rent of Tk 112,000 for one year. Under the agreement, the total annual rent was Tk 1.344 million, with the lease scheduled to remain valid until June 31, 2027.Nazrul alleged that his elder brother subsequently threatened the prospective tenant and claimed ownership of the warehouse.“According to the tenant, my brother told him that the warehouse belonged to him and that he would not allow the tenant to remove his goods once they were brought inside,” Nazrul said.He claimed the tenant was consequently forced to cancel the agreement. The rent was supposed to be paid in four quarterly installments of Tk 336,000. Although the first installment had been deposited into Nazrul’s bank account, he said he had to return the money after the agreement was cancelled.Nazrul also alleged that their father, Md. Shamsuzzaman, has been suffering from the effects of a brain stroke for about eight years and is now unable to recognize people.He claimed that in 2023, while Shafiqul Islam was still in government service, he allegedly used his influence to have a sub-registrar brought to their residence and had 50 percent of their ancestral land in Kaijuri Sripur village, along with a five-katha property in Shalgaria, Pabna town, registered in his own name.A two-storey building stands on the Shalgaria property, which Nazrul said had been purchased with their father’s pension money.According to Nazrul, their family consists of four brothers and five sisters and the disputed property originally formed part of the family’s assets. He said tensions between the two brothers escalated after he objected to what he described as his brother taking sole ownership of the 50 percent share and the town property.Nazrul further alleged that he purchased the warehouse property with his own money and had been using it for nearly 14 years. He said the premises had also been rented out for about five years.After the dispute between the brothers intensified, he alleged, attempts were made on several occasions to take control of the warehouse.He accused his brother or people allegedly acting on his behalf of breaking portions of the boundary wall and removing water pipes, rods, motors, construction materials and other items from inside the premises.Nazrul said the warehouse key was kept by labour supervisor Doiyan Babu and that Shafiqul Islam had his mobile phone number. Despite this, he alleged, the supervisor was not contacted and the incidents were carried out secretly with the help of unidentified individuals.Several workers, including labour supervisor Doiyan Babu, 52, Nasiruddin Sarker, 35, Bashir Molla, 45, Siddiq Sarker, 40, and Alam Zowarddar, said they had worked at the warehouse for years.They claimed that Nazrul Islam had been managing the warehouse, paying workers’ wages, the caretaker’s salary and electricity bills, and that he was the owner of the land.The workers said between 70 and 80 people had worked at the warehouse since 2011. With operations currently suspended, they said, many workers had become unemployed and hoped the warehouse would reopen soon.Nazrul also alleged that his brother had repeatedly threatened to kill him, leaving him concerned for his safety.He further claimed that their mother was being kept at the family’s residence in Pabna town and that he was not being allowed to meet her. He alleged that she was verbally abused when she spoke to him.Nazrul said that over the past three years, he had sent at least 10 to 15 groups of people to his brother in an attempt to resolve the family dispute. However, he claimed that none of the initiatives had produced a settlement.According to information provided by the complainant, Md. Shafiqul Islam Shafik is the son of Md. Shamsuzzaman and a resident of Kaijuri Sripur village under Lakshmipur Union in Atgharia upazila of Pabna.He served as the head of the Naval Police with the rank of Additional IGP before retiring from service on January 4, 2024.The complainants have also raised allegations concerning his alleged political influence during his service career. They claimed that while serving as Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Barisal Range in 2018, he had politically influenced matters in favour of the then ruling Awami League.The complainants further alleged that Shafiqul Islam owns substantial assets in Bangladesh and abroad, including a house and car in the United States and various flats and plots allegedly held under different names in Dhaka areas such as Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Mohammadpur, Mirpur and the 300 Feet area.They also alleged that he owns or controls property in several areas of Pabna, including the northern side of Ananta Hall, Singa, Shalgaria, Jafarabad, Madhupur, Nandanpur and Sripur, as well as a shop at Meghna Heights Market.These claims could not independently be verified.The complainants also referred to photographs that they said showed Shafiqul Islam with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and leaders and activists of the Awami League in Pabna and Atgharia. They alleged that he remained active in organizing Awami League activists in his locality even after retirement.These political allegations also could not be independently verified.This newspaper made several attempts to contact retired Additional IGP Md. Shafiqul Islam Shafik by phone for his response to the allegations. However, he did not respond to the calls.The allegations concerning ownership of the disputed property, alleged intimidation, threats, removal of materials and other disputed matters therefore remain claims made by Nazrul Islam and the complainants. Independent verification and documentary evidence would be required to establish the facts of the dispute.