AL men 'beat up' project officer over bridge construction
Md Zakir Hossain, project implementation officer of Phulpur upazila in Mymensingh, escaped to the capital yesterday allegedly to save his life from the pro-government leaders, who beat him up on Thursday afternoon in his office over a construction project there.
“I feel very insecure, there might be further attacks,” alleged Zakir, adding, “I still feel pain on the right side of my chest and neck.”
Habibur Rahman Habib, upazila vice-chairman and joint convener of Awami League (AL) Phulpur upazila unit, allegedly was locked in an altercation with him over the construction work of a Tk 30 lakh 40-feet bridge project on Kandapara Canal at Singherswar union in the upazila around 5:00pm, Zakir alleged.
“I informed Habib that some contractors and I had visited the spot on Tuesday and as the canal is full of water, the construction work can not be completed within the one-month stipulated time,” he said.
“I also told him that upazila project implementation body did not allow starting the work because of the condition…The project might be shifted to another place of the union but Habib repeatedly pressed to start the work here, which led to an altercation,” he alleged.
At one stage, Habib hurled abuse and punched him several times before leaving,” alleged Zakir.
After a while, Habib's younger brother Mahbubur Rahman, secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Phulpur upazila unit, along with his accomplices came by and beat him up, Zakir alleged, adding, when office assistant Razib Ahmed tried to save him, the gang allegedly beat him mercilessly also, and threatened them of dire consequences if the matter is disclosed.
Hearing the scream, other office staff and contractors rushed to the spot and rescued us, claimed the officer.
Abdullah Al Mamun, a contractor who was present there, said, “Habib along with 4/5 men entered the room and beat the official,” adding, “Some 20 minutes later, Mahbubur, with his gang arrived and repeated the beating.”
Liakat Hossain, an ex-BCL secretary of Phulpur upazila unit, and a contractor, who came for Zakir's rescue, said such incident is very untoward and harmful for the party's image.
Zakir alleged that he immediately informed Rashed Hossain Chowdhury, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and Ali Ahmed Mollah, officer-in-charge of Phulpur Police Station, but to no avail.
Asked, the OC said no case was lodged yet.
“I will lodge a case after talking to the higher authorities,” informed Zakir.
The UNO of Phulpur said an investigation was underway.
Denying allegations, Habib and his brother Mahbubur said they just had an argument with the official over starting of the construction work.11
asked to increase the strength of the “risky buildings” after the assessment. He urged the authorities to create awareness among the people about earthquake.
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