Locals allege that during the Awami League government, Sohel cut and sold topsoil from government khas land in Gobindapur and Lamchar mouzas and from ordinary people's land, pocketing lakhs of taka. He is also accused of making a huge amount of money by selling topsoil from land under government 1/1 khatian, former dag no. 1495 and BS dag no. 8510. He also allegedly intimidated the owners of land under BS dag nos. 8565 and 8567 in Lamchar mouza and cut and sold huge amounts of their topsoil. Locals allege that local UP chairman and Jubo League leader Alauddin Bhuiyan backed him in these activities.
After the changeover, when he occupied the bank of the Dakatia River at Goalbhaor Bazar and set up an illegal warehouse, the administration evicted it with the army's intervention. He is also accused of framing a businessman named Oli Ullah in collusion with a UP member over a government rice theft incident. Local BNP leaders allege that in the latest 13th national parliamentary election he worked for the Jamaat candidate, opposing the paddy-sheaf candidate. Despite all these controversies, on the recommendation of an influential Jamaat leader he has been appointed supervisor of Gobindapur Dakshin Union under the newly announced ‘Family Card’ project. Local dedicated leaders and activists have demanded quick organisational and legal action against this infiltrator Sohel to protect the party's image.
Asked about the allegations, Sohel Bepari said he is not involved in occupying government khas land, selling soil, or seizing anyone's property by intimidation. He claimed the allegations have no basis. If needed, the truth of the allegations can be verified through an on-the-spot investigation. Regarding the government rice allegation, he said there was an impartial investigation into the incident, conducted through the agriculture officer and other concerned persons, and he was proven innocent. There were also several investigations at the upazila level. Journalists, agriculture officers and union parishad personnel visited the homes of VGD cardholders and verified the information. He claimed his involvement was not found in those investigations either.
According to Sohel Bepari, he had a prior land dispute with the owner of the shop where the rice was found. He claimed that two-three months before the rice recovery incident, that person had filed a complaint against him. Later, when an attempt was made to implicate him in the incident, he filed a case in court. He said he has the related documents. He also claimed he has no involvement with rice dealing or any such activity. His main occupation is fish farming and the fish trade.
Regarding the allegation of occupying the bank of the Dakatia River on the south side of Goalbhaor Bazar and setting up a shop and fish warehouse, Sohel Bepari said he had bought the place from Ali Hossain Mia, the former president of the market. He claimed he had paid for the place and has the related documents. However, later the concerned people of the Water Development Board informed him that the deed land had been devoured by the river. After learning of the complications over ownership of the river-eroded land, he carried out no further activity there. He said he had also shown the purchase documents during the army's questioning. Later the goods kept there were removed. At present he is not running any shop or fish warehouse there. He also denied the allegations of selling government soil and taking money or property by intimidation. He said he never took anything from anyone by force, nor sold government soil. If any allegation is proven, he will accept whatever legal decision is made.
Regarding the allegation about the Family Card, he said he got the responsibility on the basis of his own qualifications. He claimed nobody recommended him. He is serving as the organising secretary of the union BNP and also has educational qualifications. Denying the allegation of political involvement with Jamaat, Sohel Bepari said he has no involvement with Jamaat politics. Outlining his political identity, he said he was the president of the union Chhatra Dal from 2006 to 2021. Later he served as joint convener of the Jubo Dal and organising secretary of the union BNP.
About his profession, Sohel Bepari said that since completing his honours and master's in 2014, he has been involved in the fish trade and fish farming. His father also farmed fish before him. At present, besides running a fish warehouse, he cultivates fish by leasing various water bodies. He claimed he has won awards several times at upazila and district levels for this work and has also been honoured at the national level. He also claimed that various allegations are being raised against him because, while serving as president of Gobindapur High School, he took a stand against various irregularities and corruption at the school. Calling for an impartial investigation into all the allegations, Sohel Bepari said journalists can go to his area in person and talk to local people to verify the truth of his statements.
Asked about the matter, Saiful Islam Sumon, former president of Gobindapur Dakshin Union Chhatra Dal, said the Sohel Beparis wield influence in the area. Using their influence, they try to make the illegal legal and the legal illegal. He commented that their activities are tarnishing the government's image. He claimed they are not BNP people; rather, they work as representatives of an independent member of parliament. He alleged that during the election their role was to make the Jamaat candidate win. Even when the Awami League was in power, they campaigned for the boat symbol. He also said they side with different political parties at different times according to their own convenience. He commented that they have no political ideology or party position of their own.
Asked about the matter, Mahabub Rubel, a member of Gobindapur Dakshin Union Jubo Dal, said the allegations against Sohel Bepari are not entirely baseless. He claimed there had earlier been allegations of embezzling government rice against him and investigations were held. There were also incidents of leasing land from various people for fish farming and then cutting and selling the soil of those lands. Several meetings were held over this and the police had detained him. Regarding Sohel Bepari's political identity, he said he was previously the organising secretary of the union BNP, but he had been expelled from the party. Although his post was reinstated during the election, no new post was given to him afterwards, he claimed.
Asked about the matter, local BNP leader and UP member Abdur Rahman said he is not sure whether Sohel Bepari is a BNP leader or not. He does not want to comment without verifying how much of the allegations against him is true and how much is false. He commented that there is no scope to call anyone guilty or innocent without verifying the actual truth of the allegations.
Asked about the allegations, Syed Ahmmad, land assistant officer of Gobindapur Dakshin Union, said no complaint about soil cutting or selling against Sohel Bepari has come to their office. He has no information about any such allegation either. He said they are not aware of any complaint or incident regarding soil cutting in recent times. He added that he first learned of the matter from the journalist.
Asked about the allegations, Faridganj Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Anisur Rahman said he currently has no information about the topsoil-selling allegation against Sohel Bepari. He has recently joined this upazila, so if the incident is old he may not know about it. He said they regularly conduct mobile courts; just yesterday they raided and shut down dredgers and trucks. However, he currently has no information regarding the topsoil-selling allegation against Sohel Bepari.
