Hazari denied permit to settle in Tripura

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Smita Mishra,
bdnews24.com Kolkata Correspondent

Kolkata, Nov 10 (bdnews24.com) - Former Awami League leader Jainal Hazari, now living as a fugitive in this city for four years, wants to settle down in Tripura but the Indian authorities have refused him permission to visit that state.

Hazari was elected MP from Feni during Sheikh Hasina's tenure in power between 1996 and 2001.

"I find it stifling to stay in Calcutta anymore. So much is happening in Bangladesh and I want to stay close to the scene of events, close to my native Feni," Hazari told bdnews24.com in an exclusive interview.

But he said the Indian authorities have told him to stay in Kolkata.

"I have been told India wants no controversy with Bangladesh on the issue of fugitives like me, so they want me to stay in Calcutta quietly," said Hazari over lunch at his residence near Kolkata airport.

Hazari fled Feni just before the 2001 Jatiya Sangsad elections. For nearly a year he stayed in Tripura, shuttling between Belonia (close to Feni) and capital Agartala. His close lieutenants, Ekram and Swapan Malakar, stayed with him.

But his close relations with some Tripura Congress leaders like Jawahar Saha, Debu Baidya and Sudip Barman got him into trouble with the ruling Left.

The Leftist strongman of South Tripura, Badal Chaudhury, got the police after Hazari and some of his lieutenants were arrested—only to be released later and pushed back by the Border Security Force. Hazari's lieutenants, however, were back in Tripura after the BSF had turned its back.

Hazari fled to Kolkata fearing arrest. Earlier this year, he returned to Tripura for a week and visited Belonia and Ekkenpur near Feni.

"But I was not too comfortable with the authorities in Tripura. I sensed the Leftists were still hostile to me. So I returned to Calcutta," said Hazari.

But now with so much happening in Bangladesh, Hazari wants to return to Tripura.

"It is easier for me to meet my cadres there and do my politics. I can even use my Grameen mobile from Ekkenpur and Belonia, they are so close to Feni," he said.

But the Tripura government has made it clear they do not want to have Hazari operating out of the state.

"That has been conveyed to Mr Hazari. He can only stay in India so long as he stays away from active politics," said a senior intelligence officer on condition of anonymity.

Bangladesh has repeatedly asked India to send back Jainal Hazari to stand trial for several charges, in which he was convicted.

New Delhi has denied his presence in India.

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