Dying Dinajpur truck helper names ruling party politico as murderer

With his dying breath, teenage truck helper Monjurul Islam identified his employer and a local Awami League front organisation leader as his killers, his family told the Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday. The 18-year-old truck helper succumbed to injuries sustained at the Tayeba Mazumdar Blood Bank in Dinajpur, locally known as a torture cell. The victim's father Abdul Kader and sister Nasima Begum told the Dhaka Tribune that Monjurul’s nails had been pulled out and that his arms had been slit open and had pepper and salt rubbed in. There were several marks of electrocution on his body. According to Monjurul's sister Nasima Begum, her brother said he had been questioned about a Yaba shipment that he claimed to know nothing about and then tortured, beaten with hot water bottles and lashed with electrical cables as a consequence. The fatally injured man told his family that a group of 5 or 6 people led by Monjurul's employer truck owner Mirza Mamun and including Torikul and Dinajpur District Swechhasebok League central working committee member Sirajul Salekin Rana abducted him on the night of October 25. They took him to Tayeba Mazumdar Red Crescent Blood Bank and tortured throughout the night, the family said. Monjurul's father, Abdul Kader of Mohotullapur Gajar Mari village in the sadar upazila, said his son had just started working for truck owner Mirza Mamun, whom he described as a “member of the ruling elite.” Monjurul’s family said his flesh had decayed in several places and reeked. He repeatedly vomited blood in the hospital. After languishing in hospital for four days, he died Tuesday morning after being brought home. They said Rapid Action Battalion personnel found him in the blood bank in critical condition and had him admitted to hospital. RAB arrested Sirajul Salekin Rana but later released him. RAB CPC Camp 1 Commander Major Abdullah Al Mahmud Raju said Sirajul was let go because he was not accused in any case. The RAB official said nobody had filed any complaint. Monjurul's family said because their son's murderers were tied to the ruling party, they were afraid to file a case. Monjurul had travelled to Chittagong as a helper on one of Mirza’s trucks but on the way back the driver ditched the vehicle prompting Monjurul to drive it back himself. On October 25, Monjurul's family said he had not returned home. The next day his family was informed over the phone that he had been admitted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. An employee at the blood bank, asking not to be named, said the blood bank had formed a new committee last year which used the place for criminal activities. He said Swechhasebok League leader Sirajul had taken over the entire first floor of the blood bank and used it for illicit activities. Dinajpur Police Superintendent Hamidul Alam said Monjurul’s body was brought to the morgue and determined that he had died in questionable circumstances. He said an autopsy would reveal the cause of death and other information. He added that a case would be filed after a complaint was lodged about the matter, adding that it was possible that Monjurul had been involved in drug smuggling. Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Mir Khairul Alam said the perpetrators would be brought to justice no matter their political affiliation and added that the victim's family would be provided with necessary legal support.