Three affiliated organisations of BNP—Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal—on Saturday raised questions and doubts over the failure to arrest the main accused in the brutal killing of a scrap trader in front of Mitford Hospital and the alleged exclusion of three key suspects from the case.
“Those who were directly involved in the murder, clearly visible in CCTV and video footage, were surprisingly not made the main accused in the case. Even the individuals who carried out the fatal attack have not been arrested yet. We fail to understand the reason behind it,” said Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna.
He made the remarks while addressing an emergency press conference organised by Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
Referring to a media reports, he said the daughter of the plaintiff in the case alleged that police excluded three people directly involved in the killing and instead included three innocent individuals in the case.
“More than 60 hours have passed since the incident, but despite having clear evidence of the murder, the main killers have not yet been arrested… This is a big question and a mystery,” Munna said.
He said they want to know through the media who included the names of three apparently innocent people in the case and why, while excluding the real offenders.
“The incident happened on Wednesday, but it was widely circulated on Friday. Why was there a delay of two days? Who was behind it must also be investigated. We don’t know whether any quarter did it to implement an agenda, but we suspect it,” Munna said.
The Jubo Dal chief called upon law enforcement agencies to take proper action through an investigation into the incident.
Munna said they could not identify any of the assailants shown in the video as affiliated with Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal or Swechchhasebak Dal.
He, however, said they expelled five leaders and activists of the three organisations as they were made accused in the case.
Earlier on Wednesday, a scrap trader named Mohammad Shohagh was killed in broad daylight in front of Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka. Video footage of the brutal killing went viral on social media on Friday, sparking public outrage.
Police on Friday said four people were arrested in connection with the murder. That same night, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal expelled five of their members for life over the incident.
At the press conference, Munna said, “We are very worried over the overall law and order situation in the country. Mohammad Shohagh, a trader and Jubo Dal activist under Chawkbazar Thana in the capital, was brutally killed by being hit with a stone in broad daylight. The entire nation is shocked to witness this brutal barbarity.”
He strongly condemned and protested the atrocious murder. “In this era of civilisation, we cannot accept such primitive barbarity in any way.”
The Jubo Dal President said they expelled five people from the three organisations for life as their names surfaced as instigators and defendants in the case.
‘Regrettable and brutal’: Home Adviser about Mitford murder
“We have already called upon law enforcement agencies to arrest them immediately and bring them to justice. We have taken all necessary measures from the perspective of organisational responsibility and accountability,” he said.
Munna said whenever complaints were raised against their party members in recent months, they took immediate action. “Several thousand leaders and workers have been expelled from the BNP and its different organisations. We did not avoid responsibility but took strong steps.”
He, however, questioned whether the government and authorities have taken proper legal action against the real offenders.
“Given the current situation, we believe there is no option but for the government and law enforcement agencies to act firmly. Please take effective steps to improve law and order. If you need any kind of help from us, we are always ready to provide it,” the Jubo Dal leader said.
Munna also urged the country’s people to stay alert so that no opportunistic or anti-democratic group could take advantage of the current unstable situation.
He said the law and order situation in the country has not improved, and even basic public safety is not being ensured.
The Jubo Dal leader also pointed to violent incidents, including the brutal killing of an expelled Jubo Dal leader in Khulna and an attack on a Khatib in Chandpur.
He blamed a particular group with a long history of violent politics.
He said the Jubo Dal leader in Khulna was killed by being shot and then having his tendon cut. “Everyone knows who used to cut tendons,” he added.
Munna alleged that a certain opportunistic group is making selective, politically motivated protests and giving provocative and offensive statements against BNP and its affiliated organisations.
He said BNP has urged the government many times to arrest the real culprits, but the authorities have failed to do so.
The Jubo Dal leader suggested that this failure might be intentional, to create unrest and delay the much-awaited national election.
Munna also claimed that a vested group does not want democratic elections and is provoking violence against BNP leaders.
He said a recent survey, published last week, showed strong support for BNP among the youth, especially regarding the upcoming national election.