RU mayhem leaves Binodpur traders in ruins

Trades of Binodpur Bazar near Rajshahi University are at a loss after their shops were burnt to the ground on Saturday and they have no way of getting compensation.

"I have not been able to sleep a wink since the night my store was destroyed in the arson attack," said 52-year-old Zahangir Alam, whose store was among those burned down in the clash near the Rajshahi University campus on Saturday.

Alam his brother Zafar Ali used to run their business but since his brother's death in May last year, Zahangir was forced to become the lone breadwinner for an extended family of 14.

Over 220 people were injured after students of Rajshahi University fought running battles with locals and police in Binodpur area near the campus on Saturday evening over trifles.

Zahangir suffered a loss of Tk 7 lakh including Tk 3.5 lakh in cash from his mobile banking business that he operated from the store, which was burnt and looted during the arson attack.

"I had to watch as the attackers damaged my shop, took away goods and then set it on fire. I could do nothing," he said.

Zahangir had borrowed Tk 3 lakh from a bank and Tk 2.5 lakh from a micro-credit lending organisation to run his business and was paying off the loan in installments.

Like him, at least 80 small traders of Binodpur Bazar have been severely affected by the incident with a combined estimated loss of nearly Tk 1 crore, said Shahidul Islam, president of Binodpur Bazar Small Traders Association.

At least 45 shops were destroyed, while 35 other shops were looted and damaged during Saturday night's arson attacks and clashes, Shahidul said.

"The students of the university are our customers. Our livelihood depends on them. We never dishonour or disrespect them, yet it was us traders who had to suffer the impact of Saturday's incident," Shahidul added.

He also expressed fear that the law enforcers may harass them as three cases were filed against 1,100 unnamed persons.

Binodpur Bazar, once a lively market, now appears ghostly and completely devoid of life.

The air is still thick with the smell of charred wood and debris from Saturday's violence.

A shop was seen littered with burnt watermelons, coconuts, and bananas, while damaged water bottles were seen strewn about in another shop.

Purno Chandra Das, a small trader, was looking for a notebook in his burnt shop.

"I was looking for the notebook where I wrote names of those who had unpaid bills. It is probably burnt, nothing is left," he said.

Das, who used to run a salon, said the power went out soon after the clashes began and was restored an hour later.

"The looting occurred during the blackout and then came the arson," he said.

Traders' leader Shahidul said despite the losses, the traders are not willing to file a complaint with any authority.

"Who will we accuse? Our customers? How will we survive then?" he said.

Shahidul further said they have contacted different authorities for compensation and support to rebuild their businesses but there has been no response yet.

Meanwhile, eight leftist students' parties in a joint statement blamed Chhatra League for Saturday's clashes and arson attacks.

They also blamed police and RU authorities for the negligence of duties.

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/ru-mayhem-leaves-binodpur-traders-ruins-3272016