A case has been filed accusing former commander of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Freedom Fighters’ Council, the late Abdul Mannan, and several others over an attack on protesters during the July uprising.
Abdul Alim Dulal, 22, filed the case on Sunday at Boalia police station in the city. Mannan is accused No 58 in the case.
The key accused is Dablu Sarkar, general secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan Awami League. The second accused is Mahmudur Rahman Dipon, a Ruet official and son of former independent lawmaker for Rajshahi-2 (Sadar) Shafiqur Rahman Badsha.
Additionally, 127 people have been named, and between 300 to 350 unnamed individuals are also included as unknown accused.
Abdul Alim Dulal, the plaintiff, is the son of Musharraf Hossain from the Mollapara locality in Rajshahi city. Dulal is an activist of the Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation, a supporter of the Jamaat-e-Islami, while his brother Shafiqul Islam is a member of Jamaat-e-Islami.
According to the case documents, on August 5, during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Dulal was shot in the Alupatti area of the city.
Further investigation reveals that Abdul Mannan, a deceased freedom fighter, was a member of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Awami League. His home was in the Raninagar area of Rajshahi city. He participated in the Liberation War while a student at Rajshahi Medical College.
He passed away on January 17 in a hospital in Dhaka and was buried with state honours in the Tikapara graveyard in Rajshahi the following day.
When contacted about naming a deceased person as a defendant, Dulal's brother Shafiqul Islam answered the phone. Shafiqul said: “I am a Jamaat-e-Islami member. My brother Abdul Alim supports the Sramik Kalyan Federation. On August 5 last year, during the attack on students and the public, Alim was shot. The case was filed under the organization's supervision."
He added: "Our elders handled everything. If you have any questions, you should speak to Jasim Uddin Sarkar, the organizational secretary of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Jamaat.”
When contacted, Jasim Uddin Sarkar said: “I do not know much about the case. I need to inquire first. Let me check, then I will be able to say something on the matter.”
Imon Ashraf, the media and press secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan Jamaat, said: “The case was not filed based on a Jamaat's organizational decision. I am aware that freedom fighter Abdul Mannan has passed away.”
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Boalia police station Mostak Ahmed said: “I am not aware of whether a deceased person is listed among the accused. I will need to check. If this is the case, we will verify the information. The deceased freedom fighter will be excluded when the charge sheet is submitted.”
Expressing anger at the situation, former deputy commander of Rajshahi Yasin Ali Molla, said: “Even in death, there is no peace. A deceased freedom fighter has been named as an accused."
He added: "He was a good man during his life. Many received free treatment at his clinic. I strongly condemn and protest this act of naming him as a defendant.”
