Payel Killing: Family demands to meet PM

The family of Saidur Rahman Payel, who was thrown into a canal to die by employees of a Hanif Paribahan bus after being injured during his ride on July 23, yesterday demanded to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure justice.

Otherwise, the family members will observe a hunger strike till death to realise their demands, taking position on Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

The demands came from a human chain formed by the family members, and inhabitants of Sandwip upazila, in Chittagong's City Gate area yesterday morning. The human chain was organised by Sandwip Association Chittagong at around 10:00am from where they blocked one side of Dhaka-Chittagong highway for two hours demanding capital punishment for culprits responsible for the incident.

A counter of Hanif Paribahan, the bus service whose employees threw Payel into a canal, was vandalised the same day. Photo: Star

At the rally, Payel's father Golam Mowla said, “We want to share our grief before the prime minister to ensure justice for my son, as she has also lost her loved ones.”

“If we fail to meet with PM within 48 hours, then we, the family of Payel, will start a hunger strike till death beside Dhaka-Chittagong Highway where my son was killed in a barbaric way,” said the father.

HANIF BUS COUNTER VANDALISED

After the programme, a ticket counter of Hanif Paribahan located near AK Khan area was vandalised from a procession, said police.

Assistant Commissioner of Double Mooring zone Ashikur Rahman said a counter of Hanif Paribahan was vandalised while the protesters were crossing the area after attending the programme.

However, no one was injured in this connection, said the AC.

Contacted, organisers denied the vandalism allegation, saying workers of Hanif Paribahan themselves vandalised their own counter to tarnish the movement.