The police have identified those involved in the harassment of Abdul Hai Kanu, a freedom fighter from Comilla’s Chauddagram, who was humiliated by having a garland of shoes placed around his neck, but none of them has been taken into custody yet.
Law enforcement was still looking into their possible whereabouts as of Monday evening, a day after the incident.
Earlier, on Sunday morning, a group of people harassed Abdul Hai Kanu by placing a garland of shoes around his neck in front of Kuliyara Government Primary School in Batisha union, Chauddagram.
After a video of the incident went viral on social media, it sparked widespread condemnation across the country.
According to the police, local residents, and the victim’s family, the main individuals involved in the incident are Abul Hashem and Wahidur Rahman.
Other individuals involved include Payar Ahmed, Russell, Shahid, Imran Hossain, Farhan Hossain, Kamran Hossain, and several others.
Abdul Hai Kanu's son, Golam Mustafa Bhuiyan Biplob, general secretary of Batisha union Jubo League, claimed the people involved in this act are all local Jamaat and Shibir supporters.
"In the video, they can be clearly seen. After placing the garland, the two people who held my father's hands and dragged him are Abul Hashem Majumdar and Wahidur Rahman, both of whom are Jamaat supporters. They were accompanied by at least 15-20 others, including Payar Ahmed, Russell, Shahid, Imran Hossain, Farhan Hossain, and Kamran Hossain. These individuals are local Jamaat and Shibir workers. Since the incident, no one involved has been seen in the area."
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Comilla denied any connection to the incident, condemning it strongly.
In a joint statement, leaders, including Jamaat South Ameer Md Shahjahan, Secretary Dr Sarwar Uddin Siddiqi, Chauddagram upazila Ameer Md Mahfuzur Rahman, and upazila Secretary Md Belal Hossain, said they have come to know of the incident from various newspapers, electronic media, and social media and they strongly condemn and protest this "sad incident."
They said freedom fighters are the nation’s best sons, adding that the Jamaat-e-Islami does not support the harassment of any citizen, let alone a war hero.
"We demand that those responsible be arrested and brought to justice quickly," the statement reads.
The leaders further clarified that those involved in this incident are not leaders or workers of the Jamaat-e-Islami.
"Jamaat-e-Islami does not support anyone taking the law into their own hands, nor does it condone such actions. Locally, we have learned that Abdul Hai Kanu has been named in nine cases, including a murder case. We believe the law enforcement will take appropriate action against him. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. We demand Abul Hashem and Wahidur Rahman be brought to justice."
The district and upazila leaders in the statement further said: "We are demanding the punishment of Abul Hashem and Wahidur Rahman, as well as anyone else involved in this incident. Although they are our supporters, we are expelling them from Jamaat-e-Islami due to their violation of the party's discipline and disrespect to its values."
Chauddagram police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) ATM Akhtaruzzaman said that after reviewing the video and gathering information from locals, the suspects have been identified. "Efforts are ongoing to apprehend them."
He added: "Freedom fighters from the upazila have visited the police station. Many freedom fighters from the district have called us, and we have received instructions from the office of the chief adviser. Everyone has asked us to take action against the perpetrators. We are working to apprehend them. No matter what party the suspects belong to, they will not be spared, and necessary measures will be taken."
Former commander of the district freedom fighters’ council, Safiul Alam Babul, said Abdul Hai Kanu was a prominent freedom fighter in Sector 2.
"He played a leading role in the Liberation War. Even though he faced false cases and attacks in the past for his association with the Awami League, he was a hero of the war. If he had committed any crime, legal action should have been taken, but the humiliation he faced was utterly disgraceful."
On Sunday morning, Abdul Hai Kanu went out to the local market when a group of people abducted him near Kuliyara High School. They placed a garland of shoes around his neck and physically and mentally harassed him.
