Gaibandha MP to face trial

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said that Gaibandha-1 lawmaker Manzurul Islam Liton, who allegedly shot a 10-year-old boy, would have to face trial.

“A case was filed against him. His firearms were seized. He has to appear before the court and face trial,” Kamal told reporters after emerging from a programme at the capital's Khamarbari.

Asked whether the MP has not yet been arrested for being a ruling party lawmaker, the home boss said the lawmaker would not be spared if found guilty.

On Friday morning, Sourav Mia, a class IV student, was shot in the legs at Sundarganj allegedly by Liton for “no reason”.

Though five days have passed since the shooting incident, police could not arrest Liton as yet.

Law enforcers had been claiming that he was “traceless”.

However, police seized two of his licensed firearms a day after the shooting incident. Sourav's father Saju Mia filed a case against the ruling party lawmaker with Sundarganj Police Station that night.

Replying to a query on whether any militant outfit was responsible for the killing of former PDB chairman Khijir Khan, the home minister said intelligence agencies were working on this, keeping different aspects in mind.

Although militant outfits like Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were trying to regroup, the law enforcers could successfully control their activities, he said.

Law enforcers have been regularly nabbing suspected militants, he added.

Asked about security agencies' failure so far to find the killers of the two foreigners, he said they were working on it to find the killers as well.

GATHERING DISPERSED IN GAIBANDHA

Gaibandha police yesterday prevented Sunderganj Nashokota O Santrash Protirodh Committee members from holding a meeting at Bamondanga. Law enforcers also dispersed MP Liton's supporters who gathered there to “foil the committee's meeting”, reports our Gaibandha correspondent.

Appreciating the prime minister's directives to take lawful steps against Liton for shooting Sourav, the protirodh committee organised a meeting in the eastern side of Bamondanga Railway Station at noon yesterday.

However, supporters of Liton then started gathering near the venue.

Sensing a probable confrontation between the two groups, police dispersed the gathering and prevented the groups from holding meetings.

Bisnuram Das, joint convener of the committee, said police intervened in their peaceful meeting.

However, Israil Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sunderganj Police Station, said the area is a Jamaat-Shibir stronghold and they could have incited violence.

 “So, we stopped them from holding any agitation to maintain law and order,” he said.

 Poura Nagorik Sangram Parishad, a platform of upazila Awami League and locals, on Tuesday launched a mass signature campaign at the Bangabandhu Chattar in the upazila to gather public support against Liton for shooting an innocent schoolboy.

It also demanded immediate arrest and punishment of Liton.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a relative of Liton went to Rangpur Medical College Hospital to give Tk 10,000 for Sourav's treatment, but Sourav's father refused the money.

“People will extend all possible help for better treatment of my son. I cannot take any help from such a person who shot my son without any reason,” Saju Mia told The Daily Star over the phone.