Bhangar 2 Panchayat Chief protests under open sky after losing office to party official

Arabul Islam, president of Bhangar 2 Panchayat Samiti in West Bengal, has begun holding office outdoors after being denied access to the room he had occupied for 12 years. He claims that the room, which he had been using to manage the Panchayat operations, has been taken over by Khairul Islam, the Forest and Land Affairs office-bearer of the ruling party. Arabul stated that despite holding the position for over a decade, he was unable to access the room due to the alleged illegal occupation by Khairul. This has led Arabul to set up a chair and table under the open sky to continue serving the public.

Arabul has already approached the Calcutta High Court, filing a petition to reclaim his office space. He explained that he had briefly worked out of the BDO’s office, but found the arrangement unsuitable due to the large number of people coming to him for assistance. Arabul also pointed out that during his previous tenure, he had facilitated room allocations for others, yet he now faces resistance from Khairul, who he claims has become influential within the party. Arabul further stated that this issue has disrupted his ability to function effectively as the Panchayat Samiti president.

Khairul Islam, the Forest and Land Affairs office-bearer, rejected the accusations and defended his right to the room. He stated that the room had been formally assigned to him via a resolution passed by the Panchayat. Khairul further dismissed Arabul’s claims, stating that there was no irregularity in the room allocation and suggested that Arabul’s grievances were part of a larger personal dispute. He also accused Arabul of being known for involvement in corruption and extortion, labeling his actions as “drama.”

Despite the ongoing dispute, Arabul remains committed to his duties, saying he will continue serving the public under the open sky until the matter is resolved. He has reiterated that his decision to protest in this manner was made to ensure transparency and to highlight the issue of fair treatment in the Panchayat Samiti. Legal proceedings in the case are ongoing, and both parties await a resolution from the court.