Dhaka: A case has been filed against 98 individuals, including the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on charges of attempting to murder a BNP activist. The victim, Mushfiqur Rahman Abir, lodged the case with the Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain’s court, which directed the Paltan Police Station to accept the case.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the list of accused includes former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, former Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former lawmaker of Dhaka-10 constituency Shafiul Islam, former head of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, and former Joint Commissioner of DMP Biplob Kumar Sarkar.
The case statement details a campaign initiated to support the BNP’s general meeting scheduled for December 10, 2022. Dhaka Metropolitan East Chhatra Dal conducted a campaign in the Kalabagan area from December 1 to December 4, 2022. The plaintiff was reportedly abducted from Kalabagan Lake Circus Road No. 1, subjected to physical assault, and left unconscious. He was then confined in a tannery warehouse in Hazaribagh, where a ransom of TK 10 lakh was demanded. The victim’s father paid TK 5 lakh, leading to his release on December 5.
Following his release, the plaintiff identified his captors as associates of the then Mayor Taposh. On December 7, 2022, while attending another rally at Naya Paltan, the plaintiff faced an abrupt attack from the police and various groups, including the Awami League and Chhatra League, resulting in injuries from gunfire. He was hospitalized from December 7 to December 13 at Kakrail Islami Bank Central Hospital.
After returning to his home in Kalabagan, the plaintiff’s residence was reportedly vandalized, looted, and he was allegedly tortured by local political groups. He was subsequently detained at the Kalabagan police station, where law enforcement officials demanded money from his father. The plaintiff was presented in court with a remand request, which was denied, leading to his imprisonment. He was eventually released on bail after 22 days.