Where has Haji Abdus Sattar — better known across Sirajganj as “Balu Sattar” — gone? Once a household name in the district’s sand business and Awami League politics, the controversial sand trader has vanished from public view.
Yet, many locals claim his invisible hand still grips the multimillion-taka sand trade stretching across the Jamuna River.
An empire built on the Jamuna’s sands
For years, the name Balu Sattar has been synonymous with Sirajganj’s sand empire. Despite his apparent disappearance, residents allege that all five major Balu Mohal (sand depots) remain under his control.
On paper, the number of licensed sand extraction points stands at only four or five. In reality, locals say dredgers operate relentlessly across vast stretches of the Jamuna, scooping sand far beyond authorised zones. The result: worsening river erosion that threatens homes, farmland, and even major structures such as the Jamuna Bridge.
“Every year we lose land, and no one dares to protest,” said a local shopkeeper in Kazipur, requesting anonymity. “Everyone knows who controls the sand here — but no one speaks his name aloud.”
A violent beginning
Sattar’s rise allegedly began with blood. He was one of the accused in the murder of former transport workers’ leader Nasir — a case that shocked Sirajganj’s labour community. However, he never saw the inside of a prison cell. Local sources claim he reached a financial settlement of around Tk 2 crore with the complainant, effectively ending the legal threat.
Since then, his influence expanded rapidly. During the rule of the former Awami League government, Sattar rose to become president of the party’s Ward No. 10 unit. Locals say his political connections allowed him to secure control over lucrative sand leases and silence opposition.
“He had money, muscle, and political blessing,” said a long-time resident. “That’s how he became untouchable.”
Money, politics, and power
For more than a decade, Sattar was regarded as one of the most powerful figures in Sirajganj’s political landscape. Insiders allege that local Awami League operations were often financed through his money. His fleet — consisting of hundreds of dredgers, bulkheads, and trucks — dominated the Jamuna’s sand trade.
Residents say he maintained a loyal cadre force tasked with protecting his business interests and intimidating rivals. “No tender or lease could move without his signal,” claimed a former sand trader, speaking on condition of anonymity.
After the fall
When Sheikh Hasina fled the country on 5 August 2024 amid a mass uprising, Sattar reportedly went underground. But soon after, rumours spread that he had struck a deal with local BNP leaders, offering them hefty sums to continue operating his sand depots under proxy ownership and sub-leases.
Though he remains unseen by day, several locals told this correspondent that he is occasionally spotted at night near his old office. “He’s still here — just in the shadows,” one resident alleged.
Image makeover before the storm
In the months preceding the fall of the Awami League government, Sattar was noticeably active on social and local media, sharing photos of charity events, food distributions, and religious observances. Observers now believe these activities were part of a calculated effort to polish his public image and distance himself from criminal allegations.
A senior journalist in Sirajganj said, “He was preparing for the inevitable shift in power. He wanted to look like a community benefactor, not a sand baron.”
Elusive as ever
Attempts to reach Haji Abdus Sattar for comment proved futile. His known mobile number remained switched off, and his associates declined to respond to repeated queries.
For now, the man known as Balu Sattar remains a mystery — out of sight but, by all accounts, still in control of the sands that shape both the river and the politics of Sirajganj.
Salim Reza from Sirajganj
