Hajiganj attacks: Were any of the deceased involved?
From left: Sagor Hussain, Yasin Hossain Hridoy, Md Bablu, Al Amin, Shamim Hossain Collected
Kamrul Hasan
Publish : 06 Nov 2021, 10:54 PMUpdate : 06 Nov 2021, 10:54 PM
The five-member probe committee formed by the Chandpur district administration aims to submit its report this week on how many of the deceased during the clashes in Hajiganj last month were involved in recent communal violence.
Five youths were killed during clashes between police and miscreants following attacks on Durga Puja mandaps in the Hajiganj Bazar area on October 13. The probe committee was formed the very next day.
Meanwhile, the families of four of the deceased are yet to receive death references, causing them significant distress at a time when they are grieving.
Recent compensation activities of the local administration and government statements have made it clear that tile worker Bablu, who died while on the seventh floor of a market in the area during the clash, was accidentally shot.
Why the delay in the death certificates?
Asked about the death certificate issue, Hajiganj police Inspector (Investigation) Ibrahim Khalil said that it was entirely a matter for health officials to handle.
“We have already written to the officials about issuing the death certificates,” he added.
Hajiganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr SM Soab Ahmed Chistee said the death certificates could not be issued yet as the case over the incident was under investigation.
Acting civil surgeon of Chandpur Dr Golam Kawsar could not be reached for comment.
Police, local administration at odds
When asked if any of the deceased were involved in the communal violence on October 13, Hajiganj police station Officer-in-charge Harun-or-Rashid advised this correspondent to speak with the investigating officer.
The OC also said 300 attackers had been identified and 79 people were arrested as of Friday.
Investigating officer Inspector (Investigation) Ibrahim Khalil said all of the five had been involved in the attacks.
When asked if they were caught hurling bricks and seen being violent on CCTV or other footage, he said their presence had been evident of their role.
Hajiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Momena Akhter, member secretary of the five-member probe committee formed by the district administration, said she could not reveal details while the investigation was ongoing.
“It is taking time as every minute of the CCTV and other video footage are being analysed,” she added.
Asked about compensation for the deceased, she said: “If anyone is found to have been innocent and accidentally killed, the family of the person will get compensation in accordance with government policy.”
Convenor of the committee and District Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Nasir Uddin Sarwar said they hope to submit the report this week.
Families haunted, harassed
Md Abbas, father of deceased 17-year-old Shamim, said his family was being persecuted and treated as if they took part in the communal attacks only because Shamim was selling bananas at the site when the clashes broke out.
“When Shamim died he had his earnings for the last three days and a phone that went missing with his life. Now we are in a crisis and there is no one to help. If we had the money, at least we could survive for a few days,” he added.
Ayesha Akhter, sister of deceased 19-year-old Al-Amin, said the family was being forced to continue paying back loans Al-Amin had taken for an online business because they were yet to receive the death reference.
She also reiterated that her brother was innocent and did not deserve to die, but the family was being stigmatized because everyone thought he was guilty.
The family of deceased 24-year-old Sagor said not a single person had visited their house and consoled them in the three weeks since the incident.
A trader near the family’s home said locals were hesitant to visit until Sagor was cleared as innocent.
Police have mentioned Sagor’s name as one of the accused in the case over the violence.
Deceased Yasin Hossain Hridoy was seen hurling brick pieces at police during the clashes by several witnesses.
Bablu to get compensation
Ahmed Ali Patwary Waqf Estate Assistant Manager Mohammad Rahmat Ullah said tile worker Md Bablu was the employee of the estate, which had given around Tk50,000 to his family as compensation, for now.
The Waqf Estate is preparing to provide further assistance as it has received money from the local administration and Bidyanondo Foundation.
Public Relations Officer of the foundation Salman Khan Yasin said the estate actually collected funds only for standing beside victims in the Pirganj area, but the massive response allowed it to compensate victims at Pirganj, Begumganj and Hajiganj.
In Hajiganj, the estate has donated Tk5,00,000 for the accidentally deceased and Tk6,00,000 for the injured, who are not attackers.
Education Minister Dipu Moni and State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan handed over compensation to 19 institutions and two families on October 29.
Hajiganj attacks: Were any of the deceased involved?
The five-member probe committee formed by the Chandpur district administration aims to submit its report this week on how many of the deceased during the clashes in Hajiganj last month were involved in recent communal violence.
Five youths were killed during clashes between police and miscreants following attacks on Durga Puja mandaps in the Hajiganj Bazar area on October 13. The probe committee was formed the very next day.
Meanwhile, the families of four of the deceased are yet to receive death references, causing them significant distress at a time when they are grieving.
Recent compensation activities of the local administration and government statements have made it clear that tile worker Bablu, who died while on the seventh floor of a market in the area during the clash, was accidentally shot.
Why the delay in the death certificates?
Asked about the death certificate issue, Hajiganj police Inspector (Investigation) Ibrahim Khalil said that it was entirely a matter for health officials to handle.
“We have already written to the officials about issuing the death certificates,” he added.
Hajiganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr SM Soab Ahmed Chistee said the death certificates could not be issued yet as the case over the incident was under investigation.
Acting civil surgeon of Chandpur Dr Golam Kawsar could not be reached for comment.
Police, local administration at odds
When asked if any of the deceased were involved in the communal violence on October 13, Hajiganj police station Officer-in-charge Harun-or-Rashid advised this correspondent to speak with the investigating officer.
The OC also said 300 attackers had been identified and 79 people were arrested as of Friday.
Investigating officer Inspector (Investigation) Ibrahim Khalil said all of the five had been involved in the attacks.
When asked if they were caught hurling bricks and seen being violent on CCTV or other footage, he said their presence had been evident of their role.
Hajiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Momena Akhter, member secretary of the five-member probe committee formed by the district administration, said she could not reveal details while the investigation was ongoing.
“It is taking time as every minute of the CCTV and other video footage are being analysed,” she added.
Asked about compensation for the deceased, she said: “If anyone is found to have been innocent and accidentally killed, the family of the person will get compensation in accordance with government policy.”
Convenor of the committee and District Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Nasir Uddin Sarwar said they hope to submit the report this week.
Families haunted, harassed
Md Abbas, father of deceased 17-year-old Shamim, said his family was being persecuted and treated as if they took part in the communal attacks only because Shamim was selling bananas at the site when the clashes broke out.
“When Shamim died he had his earnings for the last three days and a phone that went missing with his life. Now we are in a crisis and there is no one to help. If we had the money, at least we could survive for a few days,” he added.
Ayesha Akhter, sister of deceased 19-year-old Al-Amin, said the family was being forced to continue paying back loans Al-Amin had taken for an online business because they were yet to receive the death reference.
She also reiterated that her brother was innocent and did not deserve to die, but the family was being stigmatized because everyone thought he was guilty.
The family of deceased 24-year-old Sagor said not a single person had visited their house and consoled them in the three weeks since the incident.
A trader near the family’s home said locals were hesitant to visit until Sagor was cleared as innocent.
Police have mentioned Sagor’s name as one of the accused in the case over the violence.
Deceased Yasin Hossain Hridoy was seen hurling brick pieces at police during the clashes by several witnesses.
Bablu to get compensation
Ahmed Ali Patwary Waqf Estate Assistant Manager Mohammad Rahmat Ullah said tile worker Md Bablu was the employee of the estate, which had given around Tk50,000 to his family as compensation, for now.
The Waqf Estate is preparing to provide further assistance as it has received money from the local administration and Bidyanondo Foundation.
Public Relations Officer of the foundation Salman Khan Yasin said the estate actually collected funds only for standing beside victims in the Pirganj area, but the massive response allowed it to compensate victims at Pirganj, Begumganj and Hajiganj.
In Hajiganj, the estate has donated Tk5,00,000 for the accidentally deceased and Tk6,00,000 for the injured, who are not attackers.
Education Minister Dipu Moni and State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan handed over compensation to 19 institutions and two families on October 29.