Ex MP Ranjit's claim of intruding Bangladesh, holding meeting then vanishing leaves questions

Ranjit Sarkar, Organizing Secretary of the Sylhet District Chapter of the banned Awami League and a former Member of Parliament, has claimed that he entered Bangladesh through India's Meghalaya and held a party meeting. At the meeting held yesterday, Sunday evening, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations from his constituency, Sunamganj-1 (Jamalganj, Dharmapasha, Tahirpur, and Madhyanagar), were seen in attendance. On Monday afternoon, Ranjit published a video of his speech at the meeting on his Facebook account. In the video, he is seen addressing party leaders and activists.

However, regarding where the meeting was held, statements from police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials differ. Sunamganj Superintendent of Police A B M Zakir Hossain said there is no opportunity for Ranjit to enter the country through the Sunamganj border. He believes that "the meeting was held by gathering people somewhere along the Sylhet border." On the other hand, Sylhet Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Md. Zaber Sadeque said, "The meeting did not take place at the Sylhet border; it took place somewhere in the border area of Sunamganj." However, Zakaria Kadir, Commander of Sunamganj 28 BGB, said that their investigation found no information about such a meeting at that border.

In the video published on Ranjit Sarkar's Facebook, a canopy is seen set up over the meeting venue. Standing behind holding a banner is Omar Faruk, a leader of the banned Jamalganj Upazila Chhatra League. Beside him is Tara Mia, Organizing Secretary of the Tahirpur Upazila Awami League.

The banner read, "Sheikh Hasina will come, Bangladesh will smile. Exchange meeting on the occasion of the return of Deshratna Sheikh Hasina." Advocate Ranjit Sarkar's name was listed as a guest. The organizers listed were the Tahirpur, Jamalganj, Dharmapasha, and Madhyanagar Upazila Awami League and its affiliated organizations.

When several people present at the meeting were contacted via WhatsApp after seeing the video, none of them wanted to specify the location of the meeting. However, they confirmed that they had participated in the meeting on Sunday evening.

After calling Ranjit Sarkar's Facebook Messenger several times, he answered the call. When asked about the meeting, he said, "I cannot provide any information. After the meeting, I returned to India through the Companiganj border." When asked where he held the meeting, he disconnected the call.

Omar Faruk, the Jamalganj Upazila Chhatra League leader who was holding the banner at the meeting, also confirmed that the meeting took place on Sunday evening. However, when asked for details about the location and time of the meeting, he too hung up.

In the 5-minute-33-second video, Ranjit Sarkar is seen addressing Awami League leaders and activists. In his speech, he alleged torture, arrests, and the political situation of the party's leaders and activists after August 5, 2024. Referring to Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's announcement of returning to Bangladesh next December, he called on leaders and activists to prepare.

In this regard, Sunamganj Superintendent of Police A B M Zakir Hossain said, "The border areas of Sunamganj are under airtight security. There is no opportunity for Ranjit Sarkar to enter through that border. The people from his constituency seen in the video were gathered somewhere along the Sylhet border to do this."

However, Sylhet Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Md. Zaber Sadeque's statement is different. He said the meeting did not take place at the Sylhet border. It took place somewhere in the border area of Sunamganj. The people present at the meeting are also residents of Sunamganj.

On the other hand, Zakaria Kadir, Commander of Sunamganj 28 BGB, claimed that after inquiring in various ways in the Sunamganj border area, they learned that no such meeting took place at that border.