Allegedly, an Awami League activist in Rangpur has been falsely accused in two sabotage cases, turning him into an outcast over the past two years.
Victim Mujibul Haque belongs to an underprivileged family living in Tilokpara village under Changmari union; and he is also a registered member of the local Awami League unit.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Mujibul said: “Due to a land dispute, a local influential quarter has falsely accused me of being a member of Jamaat-Shibir, and has had me arrested twice by the police in two sabotage cases.
“I was imprisoned for a total of seven months in two phases. I am presently on the run from the law to avoid incarceration for false allegations. Local police considers me a listed terrorist of Jamaat-Shibir.”
According to Mujibul’s neighbours, the man and his family make ends meet by selling homemade bread at local markets.
Mujibul has a certificate, issued by Changmari union Awami League President Mokhlesur Rahman, validating his membership in the ruling party. Ward Awami League General Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shamim also gave him a certificate.
Mujibul’s membership number in the Awami League is 7056347, and he was registered on April 20, 2015. His family is also widely-regarded as pro-Awami League in the neighborhood.
His ordeal
Elaborating on his predicament, Mujibul said: “I am engaged in a land dispute with one of my neighbors. Under their influence, Mithapukur police station Sub-Inspector Abdus Sukur Mia filed a sabotage case against me in 2014.
“Police arrested me in 2015 and produced me before a court. I was imprisoned for more than three months and then was released on bail. Police again arrested me on September 8, 2017, under the influence of my opposition.”
He continued: “Mithapukur police station Sub-Inspector Abu Hossain filed another sabotage case against me that year. I was again imprisoned for around three months, but later managed to secure bail.
“I have to appear before the court every month. Despite my Awami League membership, local police have listed me as a Jamaat-Shibir terrorist. My repeated pleas to the administration to resolve these cases have fallen into deaf ears.”
Mujibul collected membership certificates from ward, union, and upazila units of Awami League, but those did nothing to ease his dilemma.
The then-Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mithapukur police station, Mozammel Haque, had promised Mujibul to look after the matter, but no steps were taken in this regard.
Responding to a query, Mithapukur upazila Awami League President Mozammel Haque Mintu Mia said: “I issued a certificate to Mujibul, confirming him and his family as pro-Awami League.
“I will look into the matter regarding why he is being shown as a Jamaat-Shibir terrorist.”
Incumbent OC of the police station, Zafar Ali, could not be reached by phone for comment on this issue.
Mujibul urged the authorities concerned to take action against those responsible for his incarceration.
