Flower vendor beaten up in Shahbagh
A central leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League yesterday allegedly beat up a flower vendor of Shahbagh, calling him “an activist of BNP” as the latter refused to give him extortion money.
Juwel Molla, theatre and debate affairs secretary of BCL’s central unit, beat up Shamim Ahmed, general secretary of Shahbagh flower vendors’ association, at the organisation’s office, according to witnesses.
Several flower vendors of the area said Shamim refused to give extortion money that Juwel demanded as “Eid allowance” before Eid-ul-Azha, but he obliged to supply flowers free of cost to different programmes of BCL.
Though Juwel took flowers from Shamim several times, the demand for extortion never stopped, alleged flower vendors.
Kamal Miah, president of the vendors’ association, asked Juwel to come over to their office when he called yesterday asking for money.
Juwel went to the association’s office along with six other BCL leaders, including Bayezid Kotoal, deputy sports affairs secretary of the central committee.
He accused Shamim of supplying flowers to BNP programmes, called him an activist of the party, and later slapped him as Shamim denied the allegations.
Later, other BCL activists also slapped, punched and kicked Shamim, alleged Kamal Miah, who was present at the spot.
Talking to The Daily Star, Shamim said, Juwel called him several times demanding money but he refused as his business was not doing well. “Today [yesterday], Juwel beat me up, calling me a BNP activist,” he said.
Contacted, Juwel denied allegations of beating up Shamim and demanding money.
“I got to know that he is involved with BNP and also patronises five-six pro-Jamaat vendors. I went there to ask him about it; I did not beat him up,” Juwel said.
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