4 Dead AL Leaders, 6 BNP Leaders Named as Accused

A leader of NCP student wing has filed a case accusing 248 people, including leaders of the now-banned Awami League, of disrupting public order by detonating cocktails and crude bombs, blocking highways with firearms, and creating unrest. The complaint alleges that the accused undermined peace in the country. The list of accused includes not only four deceased Awami League leaders but also six BNP leaders.

The plaintiff, Marzuk Abdullah, serves as joint general secretary of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s Barishal metropolitan unit and previously worked as a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Barishal. Several leaders of the movement said Marzuk himself is wanted in a robbery case and faces an outstanding arrest warrant.

The case has angered local BNP leaders and activists. They alleged that Marzuk Abdullah, along with a police officer and several others, is part of a ‘case-trading syndicate’ that filed the complaint to extort a large sum of money.

Marzuk filed the case on Thursday with the court of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Barishal. Judge SM Shariyat Ullah accepted the complaint and directed the deputy commissioner of Barishal Metropolitan Police to investigate. Rajib Majumdar, a bench assistant of the court, said the complaint includes charges under various laws, including the Arms Act, Explosives Act, and Anti-Terrorism Act.

The complaint also names six BNP leaders as accused. They include former Barishal Metropolitan BNP member and former reserved-seat councilor Majida Borhan (accused No. 171); Ward No. 4 councilor Md. Yunus (No. 149); former Ward No. 18 councilor and former BNP general secretary of the ward, Ziaul Haque Masum (No. 158); former Ward No. 26 councilor Humayun Kabir (No. 163); former reserved-seat councilor Rashida Parveen (No. 165); and former reserved-seat councilor Selina Akter (No. 174).

Former Barishal district Chhatra Dal Joint Convener Saiful Islam Sujan expressed frustration over the case. He told Agamir Somoy, “My mother, Majida Borhan, has been named as an accused. She currently serves as an adviser to BNP's Ward No. 17 unit and is a former councilor of Barishal City Corporation. I repeatedly tried to contact the plaintiff to find out why she was included in the case, but I could not reach him.”

Former Barishal Metropolitan BNP Member Secretary Mir Jahidul Kabir said he was surprised to know that several BNP leaders had been named in a case filed against Awami League leaders and activists. “Among them are former Ward No. 4 councilor Yunus Mia and former Ward No. 18 councilor and BNP leader Ziaul Haque Masum,” he said.

The complaint also shows that eight Awami League leaders were listed twice in the accused list.
Former Ward No. 29 Awami League general secretary and councilor Imran Molla appears as accused Nos. 41 and 54.
Tarek Shah appears as Nos. 38 and 82.
Chhatra League leader Arifur Rahman Shakil appears as Nos. 35 and 188.
Former Barishal Sadar Upazila chairman Saidur Rahman Rintu appears as Nos. 91 and 175.
Former Kashipur Union chairman Kamal Hossain Molla Liton appears as Nos. 115 and 177.
Former Barishal City Corporation panel mayor Rafiqul Islam Khokon appears as Nos. 151 and 184.
Ward No. 19 Awami League general secretary Mujibur Rahman Bacchu appears as Nos. 20 and 219.
Ward No. 10 Awami League general secretary Shekhar Das appears as Nos. 70 and 203.

A Barishal metropolitan Awami League leader, who requested anonymity, said the first accused in the case is Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, former mayor of Barishal City Corporation and general secretary of the Barishal metropolitan Awami League. He left for the United States via India after the July movement. District Chhatra League Vice President Sajjad Serniabat is currently in West Bengal, India, while BM College Chhatra League President Rashedul Islam Akash has been living in the United Arab Emirates for a long time.

A joint convener of the Barishal Metropolitan BNP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Agamir Somoy that Marzuk Abdullah is part of a ‘case-filing syndicate.’ He said the complaint states that the alleged incidents occurred within the jurisdiction of Airport Police Station, but neither BNP nor Chhatra Dal leaders were aware of any such incidents.

“We have learned that a four-member group, including Marzuk, filed the case after discussions with Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman. In their attempt to profit from case trading, they have now even named deceased people and members of our party as accused,” he said.

Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman said, “I have not yet received a copy of the complaint. I do not know whether it mentions incidents within my police station area, and I do not know the plaintiff.”

Questions have also been raised about the credibility and purpose of the case, as four deceased individuals are included in the list of accused.

Accused No. 212, Khandakar Rezaur, died on January 22, 2022.

Accused No. 198, Abul Faruk, died on March 25, 2023.

Accused No. 225, Hafizur Rashid, died on October 19, 2021.

Accused No. 195, Ali Hawlader, died on July 26 of the same year.
However, the complaint alleges that they took part in processions and threw cocktails and crude bombs in June this year.

Defending himself, plaintiff Marzuk Abdullah blamed witnesses for the inconsistencies. He told Agamir Somoy, “This happened because of incorrect information provided by witnesses. It is also possible that a group intentionally did this to make me controversial.”

Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ashik Saeed said authorities would examine the matter. “We will investigate whether the incidents mentioned in the case actually occurred during the period specified in the complaint and review the entire matter thoroughly,” he said.