Dhaka District Swechasebak Dal member Abdul Halim Babu broke down in tears during a press conference on Sunday, vehemently denying allegations of being a "drug lord" and claiming he is the victim of a political conspiracy.
The press conference was organized at a restaurant in the Pollibidyut area of Ashulia, Savar, to protest what Babu described as a false and fabricated propaganda campaign being run against him on social media and other platforms.
During his written address, Babu asserted that a local drug-dealing syndicate targeted him because of his active stance against narcotics in the area. He explained that he and local residents had previously taken direct action against these operations. "We broke the CCTV cameras that they had installed to run drug businesses from their homes, and we demolished their drug spots," Babu said. He claimed that after being driven out of the area, these individuals began spreading propaganda online. He further alleged that the syndicate had captured and beaten some drug peddlers to record forced video confessions falsely implicating him as a drug lord, which they then circulated on the internet. He challenged anyone to prove his involvement, stating he has absolutely no connection to the drug trade.
Pointing to a political motive behind the smear campaign, Babu stated that those orchestrating the conspiracy are affiliated with the Awami League. He questioned if his active role in street protests over the years was the reason he was being targeted. Demanding a fair and impartial investigation into the allegations, he declared that he would willingly accept any punishment if even a fraction of the claims against him were proven true.
The Swechasebak Dal leader also emphasized his desire to protect his party's reputation. He stated that the party should not bear any responsibility for personal allegations. He expressed that he does not want to shift any blame onto the local Member of Parliament or Dhaka District Swechasebak Dal Member Secretary Asaduzzaman Mohan, adding that he would face any proven charges alone rather than let the party's image suffer.
Emotionally recalling his participation in the July-August student-led mass uprising, Babu described how he risked his life on the streets on August 3 and 4 at Jahangirnagar and the Baipail intersection. He stated he was prepared to sacrifice his life for the liberation of the people and for party leaders Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, noting that he has no personal greed or demands from the party.
Finally, Babu addressed rumors about his financial status. He revealed that he is currently facing an ongoing court case over an unpaid loan of only one lakh Taka, which he had borrowed from a non-governmental organization (NGO) during the Awami League regime. He pointed out the absurdity of online claims that he earns lakhs of Taka monthly while he remains unable to clear this small debt.
