Awami League leader accused in murder case, BNP leader recommends withdrawal as ‘political’
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District BNP convener Syed Modarresh Ali has appealed for withdrawal of the case of murder of Italian expatriate Masood Rana in Bhanga of Faridpur as ‘political’. The main accused in the case is Imdadul Haque alias Bachchu. He is the vice-president of Bhanga Paur Awami League.
On April 23, the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended the withdrawal of the Masood murder case as a political case in the ‘Case Withdrawal-Related Report’. It has the name of BNP leader Syed Modarresh Ali as the applicant. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Molla, Superintendent of Police Md. Nazrul Islam, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Mintu Biswas and District and Sessions Judge Court Public Counsel (PP) Ashraf Ali recommended.
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However, BNP leader Syed Modarresh Ali denied any such request to withdraw the case. Although ADM Mintu Biswas confirmed the district BNP convenor signed as petitioner, he may have forgotten now.
The family of deceased Masud Rana (45) held a press conference at Faridpur Press Club on Tuesday afternoon to protest this incident. Masud’s younger brother Md. read the written statement of Halima Begum, the mother of the deceased Masud. Asaduzzaman. Masood’s wife Shaheen Afroz and younger daughter Masuda Meherama were present at the press conference.
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In the press conference, it was said that on April 13, 2021, 30-35 people including Imdadul Haque, his brother Manju Mia, two sons Riju Mia and Mizu Mia, the Vice President of Naopara Municipality of Bhanga Municipality, hacked Italian expatriate Masud Rana to death at the bus stand. Two days after the incident on April 15, Halima Begum, the mother of deceased Masud, filed a murder case at Bhanga Police Station as the plaintiff. On September 27 of that year, the investigating officer of the case submitted a charge sheet to the court against 34 people including the aforementioned accused. Currently, the case is under trial in the second judge court of Faridpur. Recently, the defendants influenced the case to be included in the withdrawal list citing it as a ‘politically motivated case’.
According to local sources, in 2012, Imdadul Haq was elected vice president in the last conference of Bhanga Paur Awami League. That committee is still in place. This Awami League leader was seen campaigning for Faridpur-4 constituency BNP candidate Shahidul Islam in the 13th National Assembly elections.
Two residents of Bhanga town area told Prothom Alo on condition of anonymity that Bhanga town elections were held on September 20, 2021. In the election, Imdadul Haque took the initiative to become a councilor candidate for Ward No. 2. His rival in the same ward was Zahurul Haque. Italian expatriate Masud Rana was a supporter of Zahurul. He (Masud) was campaigning for Zahurul and helping the people of the area. Out of this anger the murders took place.
Abdur Rashid, the lawyer of the plaintiff, said that the evidence of the case is going on. Out of 24 witnesses, 9 have completed their testimony so far. He said, this is not a political case. BNP, Awami League, Jamaat are not written anywhere in the case. It was a murder over a local dispute. But as the defendants are influential, they are trying to withdraw the case under the guise of political considerations, which is in no way acceptable and justifiable.
District BNP convener Syed Modarrech Ali told Prothom Alo that the Ministry of Home Affairs has clear instructions that no case of murder or torture of women will come under political consideration. There is no question of any such application of his. He does not know why his name has been included as an applicant. He said, “Those who have sent recommendations can say whether I have signed as an applicant or have given verbally.” They cannot show this paper. Because I have not done any such thing.’
However, ADM Mintu Biswas told Prothom Alo, “Although the applicant is the victim in these cases. But the district BNP convenor mistakenly signed the petitioner’s room. He said, the murder case cannot be withdrawn on political grounds – there is no such policy. Apart from that, the district committee has sent this recommendation after three rounds of verification. If the recommendation is not appropriate, then the affected party can apply to them, or can apply directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has not been implemented yet. There is still an opportunity to continue the case.
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