Civil society groups and individuals from different strata at a demonstration yesterday, alleged that the government was in favour of supporting political “godfathers” who “kill and victimise” people, rather than ensuring justice for the citizens.
Mentioning the recent Tanvir Muhammad Twaki murder and the Savar Rana Plaza collapse, the agitators criticised the government for backing Narayanganj Awami League leader AKM Shamim Osman and Sohel Rana, another ruling party supporter, whose negligence has led to the deaths of over 1,125 people, mostly garment workers.
The government should concern themselves with citizens’ security first, they demanded.
The remarks were made at a token mass-hunger strike programme organised by Santrash Nirmul Twaki Mancha (Twaki platform to eliminate terrorism) at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Twaki, 17, son of cultural activist and Narayanganj Ganajagaran Mancha Convener Rafiur Rabbi, was found dead beside a canal of the Shitalakhya river in Narayanganj on March 8 – two days after he went missing.
Speaking at the occasion, Rabbi said: “The government thinks they can cling to power by using such godfathers. It is not true. Such godfathers will come and go. But we, the citizens, will not remain silent if the government fails to take proper steps against such criminal activities.”
Since the death of Twaki, his father has been accusing Shamim Osman for the killing. Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy also accused Shamim for the death of the teenager.
Branding Shamim as a godfather of Narayanganj, Rabbi also demanded immediate arrest of “killer Shamim Osman.”
Convener of the token hunger strike programme, Manjurul Ahsan Khan said: “One can see a series of such killings, which take place because of the decisions of the political godfathers in the country. Unfortunately, justice has never been ensured for the victim’s family.
“The government is unwilling to punish the godfathers since they created them,” he added.
A number of people including Khelaghar central committee General Secretary Mukhlesur Rahman Sagar, Prabir Sarkar of Udichi Shilpi Ghosthi, academic AN Rasheda, Syaed Anwar Hossain, Zonayed Saki of Gana Sanghati Andolon, labour leader Mantu Ghosh, Khalequzzaman of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, cultural activist Mamunur Rashid, Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagarik Oikkyo and columnist Rahnuma Ahmed were present at the token mass-hunger strike.