Chouddagram (Comilla) Correspondent: Jahangir Alam, owner of Mumtaz Jewellers, Munsirhat Bazar, Chouddagram, Comilla, has been accused of gold smuggling and hundi business under the guise of gold business. The illegal business is being carried out by affixing stickers of police, journalists and judges on private cars.
Last Thursday evening, the driver and a man entered Mumtaz Jewelers with two large bags from a private car with a police sticker in front of Zafar Tower in Munsirhat Bazar. Immediately several journalists working in Chouddagram saw the private car with police stickers and reported it to the police station. Jahangir Hossain forcibly removed the private car before the police arrived at the scene.
According to local sources, Jahangir Alam of Dakra village of Munsirhat union of the upazila has been running a gold business under the name Mumtaz Jewelers in Munsirhat market for a long time. In this opportunity, he has been doing gold smuggling and hundi business. By doing this, in a short time, Jahangir Alam became the owner of many properties, including a three-storey luxury house.
A private car (Dhakametro-G-12-5260) with a police sticker stopped in front of Zafar Tower in Munsirhat Bazar on Thursday evening, April 12. Within moments, the driver Masud son of Samchu of Rammala area of Comilla Kotwali police station and a man entered Mumtaz Jewelers with two big bags from the private car. When 11 journalists working in Chouddagram came through that road, they stood in front of the private car with a sticker saying ‘Police’.
Within moments, when the news was reported to Chauddagram police station, a police team led by SI Bikas Barua forcibly removed the private car through Jahangir Alam and some of his accomplices before reaching the spot. At this time, an argument with the journalists took place. At this time, market traders, buyers and passers-by were present. Jahangir Alam admitted to removing the private car in front of the police station.
Several businessmen and passers-by who did not want to be named said to the journalist, “Sir, they control the gold smuggling and hundi business every day by putting stickers on the police, journalists, judges.” Every day gold smuggling and hundi business of Rs 4-5 crore goes on behind Mumtaz Jewellers. In addition to the private car, they use 4 motorcycles.
A large syndicate led by Jahangir Alam runs gold smuggling and hundi business from Munsirhat Bazar to various parts of the country including Chauddagram, Nangalkot, Laksam and Sadar Dakshin, but many complain that the administration is not taking any action.
Some people present at the scene complained that Jahangir Alam almost controls the gold smuggling and hundi business by blackmailing various administration agencies and some leaders of the ruling party. During his stay in Dubai, Jahangir Alam was jailed for illegal activities. After that, in the last 6-8 years, it has blossomed into a banana tree.
Rakhal Debnath, an employee of Mumtaz Jewelers in Munsirhat Bazar, said, “Jahangir Alam does not smuggle gold.” But gold bars and other ornaments come from abroad. The gold was taken to jewelers in different parts of the country in a private car and four motorcycles.
Engineer Faisal, the leader of the volunteer league at the scene, said, “I don’t know whether Jahangir Alam does hundi business or not.” But they do business by buying gold brought from different countries. Tried to mediate with journalists on Thursday evening so that no untoward incident happens.
Meanwhile, Jahangir Alam denied gold smuggling and hundi business on Thursday evening, saying, “I am doing gold business.” However, he did not agree to say anything about gold smuggling by putting stickers of police, journalists and judges on private cars.
Zahidul Islam, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police of Chauddagram Circle, said, “I have just heard the matter.” I will look into the matter.
