Ataur Rahman, first joint convener of the NCP district committee in Sunamganj, rejected allegations that he illegally occupied shop land and a ferry-ghat in the Chawk Bazar area, calling the accusations false and politically driven. He said the land in question was purchased by him and that he allowed two people to stay there for humanitarian reasons; those individuals later joined Awami League politics. Ataur said a dispute arose when he asked them to vacate to build a permanent house. One party left, but the other refused, and, he alleges, Farid Ahmed — a local Awami League organizer — conspired with relatives to stage a false human-chain protest against him. Ataur claimed the organizer had earlier sought administrative help to lease the boat landing, which Ataur opposed; he says the organizer retaliated with the campaign. Local traders held a protest against Ataur on Tuesday afternoon.