Around 7:30am on December 15 cell phone of Patgram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sohrab Hossain rang; as he picked up the phone a frightened voice from the other side told him to save them as Jamaat-Shibir men unleashed a reign of terror in Bawra and Sharewar Bazar area.
“We are feeling insecure; try to do something for us,” said the trembled voice.
However, by the time Lalmonirhat Police Super Habibur Rahman, on information, along with an additional force left for Patgram to bring the situation under control.
Locals thought Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members would come to their rescue as the BGB camps surrounds the area. But as BGB personnel did not come forward Jamaat-Shibir vandals wreaked havoc on the area for hours.
Before the additional forces of police reached the spot the Jamaat-Shibir was reinforced with its cadres from Dimla and Joldhaka area leading to a fierce clash that left four people dead and hundreds other injured.
The rowdy Jamaat-Shibir men also vandalised houses and shops of minority Hindu people. They also looted valuables.
Soon after the incident OC Sohrab was transferred and Tangail Police Station Officer-in-Charge Amiruzzaman joined the Patgram Police Station.
Locals alleged Sohrab was a supporter of the BNP. Everything was in his knowledge. If he took steps nothing could have happened there, they said.
Sumon Gazi, a tea stall owner of Patgram Upazila, said some people were arrested only for eyewash. “Main culprits got away scot-free doing their regular business.”
Contacted Habibur Rahman, police super of Lalmonirhat, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had taken all necessary steps to maintain calm. About Jamaat-Shibir men he said following police raids they went into hiding in corn fields.
However, this correspondent did not find any corn field in the area that could possibly be used as a hiding place.
Locals said they had just planted seeds that would grow five to six feet high after a couple of months later. It is impossible to hide in those fields now as they are now only five to six inches long.
Asked about BGB role, van driver Farid, said the paramilitary force personnel played the role of onlookers when Jamaat-Shibir goons resorted to vandalism at Bawra Bazar.
Farid said he was present at the time of incident. “As two BGB members tried to move forward to stop the violence, a BGB official shouted at them: Why do you have so much interest?”
Mohammad Junad Ali, camp in-charge of Patgram BGB, told the Dhaka Tribune that they only take action after the local administration or their headquarters ask them to do so. Rab and police handled the situation on the day, he added.
Many in the area alleged that police would not arrest the Jamaat-Shibir vandals as there had been an underhand dealing of a huge amount of money.
Mrinal Ghosh, a resident of Mastarbari area, said: “As it is a profitable business for police officials they would not take action against the perpetrators.”
SP Habibur Rahman, however, said police had arrested a number of people involved in the violence. The situation was now under their control and they were trying to arrest the other culprits, he asserted.