A workers’ leader of Jiban Bima Corporation (JBC) has started to illegally build a shop on the ground floor of the JBC building in Reazuddin Bazar area of Chittagong. The shop is being built close to the JBC building’s western entrance. Taking the opportunity of National Mourning Day, the workers’ leader, in collusion with some influential locals, started the construction works early yesterday.

This correspondent on yesterday morning found eight workers and five more people on the spot. Some helpers were unloading bricks from a push-cart parked nearby.

Taposh Das, who claimed to be the president of the JBC Workers’ League (Chittagong chapter), was found leading the construction. Sources said he worked at JBC’s Agrabad office.

When asked if he had any permission to construct the shop, Taposh said: “We’re constructing a guard room and office for the workers’ union.”

He, however, failed to show any kind of permission to build a structure covering the entrance of the building. Moreover, he could not answer why he, instead of JBC, was taking the initiative to build the structure.

Sources said Taposh had taken money from some Saiful Islam to build the shop and rent it out to him. Saiful Islam, who was also present on the spot, told this correspondent he had permission to build the shop. However, he too failed to show any permission.

Both Taposh and Saiful tried to bribe this correspondent to not publish anything on the matter. A JBC official

said, on the condition of anonymity: “Taposh is constructing the shop illegally to serve his own interest. The JBC authorities are not aware about it. He’ll put the shop on rent. He is building the shop taking the opportunity of a public holiday.”

Prmangkar Sarkar, manager of the JBC (headquarters), told The Independent: “We’ve not asked anyone to build any shop the at JBC building in Reazuddin Bazar. We’ve not authorised Taposh Das to erect a structure there. Our regional offices in Chittagong decides on such matters.”

Kazi Shafiual Islam, manager of the JBC (Chittagong division), told The Independent: “No one has taken any permission from us. If Taposh is found responsible for the illegal structure, we’ll take action against him.”

“On receiving complaints in this respect, we rushed to the spot and asked Taposh to stop the construction,” said Mamunur Rashid Paltan, sub-inspector of Kotowali police station.