Many panic-stricken BNP leaders in outlaw-infested Jhenidah are now on the run for life as there is no sign of let up in killings and attacks by outlaws.
They became scared as two front ranking BNP leaders were shot dead allegedly by outlaws between January 21 and February 19, police and party sources said.
In their latest 'operation' on February 19, Jhenidah Sadar upazila BNP vice-president and chairman of Ganna Union Parishad (UP) Sharafat Hossain was shot dead during day time.
Police and locals said, at around 2-30 pm, several masked gunmen waylaid Sharafat at Kuthidurgapur in Jhenidah sadar upazila and sprayed bullets killing him on the spot. Sharafat was returning home from the UP office in a rickshaw.
After a while, a man made a phone call to some local journalists, iIntroducing himself as a leader of Janajuddho faction of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP).
He claimed responsibility for the murder, saying 'class enemy' Sharafat was killed by their cadres.
After Sharafat's murder, a Jhenidah BNP leader who has taken shelter in Magura, “Not only I, many of my party colleagues are now scared and on the run fearing attack by outlaws as law enforcers failed to tame them”. He declined to be named.
Earlier, when district Jubo Dal organising secretary Haidar Ali Hadu was shot dead by Janajuddho cadres, panicked party leaders including Abdul Malek, Akteruzzaman, Zahiduzzaman Mona, Abdul Majid, Asif Iqbal and Ashraful Islam Pintu filed general diaries (GDs) with police and sought security, he said. But there was no step by law enforcers, he alleged.
Jhenidah Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nazrul Islam however said, “Strict police vigilance is on to check the criminal gangs”. Special drives have been launched to track down outlaws and criminals, he said.
Asked about alleged police failure, he said, “We are trying our best but it is not so easy to root out crimes overnight in an area where outlaws unleashed a reign of terror for 37 years”.
According to police, intelligence agencies and newspaper reports, at least 18 incidents of armed attacks on BNP leaders took place in Jhenidah district between October 19, 2005 and February 19, 2008. At least nine BNP leaders were killed and 10 others were critically injured in the attacks.
On January 21 in the evening, Shailakupa upazila BNP organising secretary Idris Ali was short dead on the spot by miscreants while he was coming out of his house on a motorbike.
On the night of January 25, Anwar Hossain Dablu, a BNP cadre and bodyguard of former lawmaker Moshiur Rahman, was seriously injured as miscreants hurled bombs on him at a tea stall at Adorshopara in Jhenidah town.
BNP leader Abdul Halim of Dhopabila village in Jhenidah Sadar upazila was bombed to death on the night of December 9 last year when he was returning home riding a bicycle.
Janajuddho leader Rajib Ahmed in cell phone calls to some local journalists claimed the responsibility for the killing.
On November 18, Kumarbaria union Kishak Dal president Anwar Hossain Anu was bombed to death.
On June 25, Jhenidah Sadar upazila BNP secretary Abu Bakar Siddik was bombed to death in front of his house in Bapaipara area of the town.
District Jubo Dal organising secretary Haidar Ali Hadu was killed on the spot on December 1, 2006 when miscreants opened fire on him after hurling two bombs.
Sadar upazila BNP office secretary Lutfor Rahman Shanto was shot dead on October 7 the same year.
In April, Ganna union BNP president Kabir Hossain was shot dead by unidentified gunmen.
On October 19, 2005, Harinakundu upazila BNP president and municipality chairman Azizur Rahman Mondol was shot dead in front of a tea stall near the local police station.
Shafiuddin Ahmed, vice-president of Madhuhati union BNP and a member of the same Union Parishad was bombed to death at Ccharkol Bazaar in Jhenidah Sadar upazila on December 10 the same year.
According to police and intelligence agencies, at least 11 outlawed parties with about 1000 armed cadres are still active in six upazilas of the district. They have at least 500 illegal firearms.