Attacks on BNP-Jamaat men: Of masks, helmets and baffled cops
Police are clueless about mask- or helmet-wearing assailants who have killed three BNP-Jamaat supporters and injured 15 others in Rajshahi region over the last two months.
At least 18 such attacks were carried out in Pabna, Natore, Naogaon, and Rajshahi.
In every incident, the attackers arrived and left in motorcycles or microbuses and used sharp weapons, said the victims' family members.
On October 29, Golam Kazem Ali Ahmad, a renowned doctor of Rajshahi city, was stabbed to death in Bornali area.
Quoting witnesses, police said the attackers, who were in a microbus, cut off the motorcycle the doctor was riding as a pillion passenger and then stabbed him in the chest before fleeing the scene.
There was no registration plate on the microbus.
On the same day, several masked men kidnapped Ershad Ali from his pharmacy in Rajshahi city. His body was found the next morning.
Local Jamaat men said both the victims were patrons of their party.
Two police officers told this correspondent that the attackers in both incidents were wearing masks and using the same microbus.
The Police Bureau of Investigation was tasked on November 14 with investigating the murder of Kazem. Abdul Mannan, the inspector investigating the case, said he has yet to find any clue.
Contacted, Bijoy Basak, additional deputy inspector general of Rajshahi range police, said, "We found patterns in some of the incidents of attacks. We're working on the cases and taking actions to prevent its repetition."
In Naogaon, five incidents were recorded in Atrai, Raninagar, and Sadar upazilas.
On the night of November 18, masked men in three motorcycles stopped an auto-rickshaw at Yad Ali intersection in Naogaon town and stabbed Kamal Ahmed, a local leader of an opposition party. He died soon afterwards.
His son Rasel Imam Nabab filed a murder case accusing unidentified attackers.
Faisal Bin Ahsan, officer-in-charge of Naogaon Sadar Police Station, said police had collected CCTV footage from the area and got "important information", adding that at least six individuals were involved.
On September 24, Jubo Dal convening committee member Anwar Hossain of Raninagar upazila of the district was abducted, tortured, and then dropped off at a secluded place.
Three others were tortured in a similar manner in Naogaon. But none of them filed complaints.
The victims include Zahidur Rahman, a Jubo Dal leader and union parishad chairman, and Abu Raihan, a local BNP leader. They are residents of Raninagar.
Raihan was tortured and stabbed in his right arm on the night of October 23.
"I don't want to file any case as I think it will only put me in danger," he said.
In Natore, 10 such incidents have been reported. Seven of the victims filed cases. Nine of the incidents occurred in Naldanga upazila.
On October 16, Nasir Uddin, who locals say is a Jamaat patron, was assaulted by helmet-wearing men in Naldanga. He said police refused to record his complaint.
On the night of October 21, Abu Raihan, leader of a BNP-affiliated body, was abducted from Chhatni area. He was stabbed and left in Rajshahi's Putia.
He said he identified one of the attackers, but the police still had not caught anyone.
On October 26, Fazlur Rahman, general secretary of Natore Sadar Jamaat, was stabbed by helmet-wearing men.
His brother Ashraful Islam said the police took no action even though his brother identified one of his attackers.
Abul Kalam, OC of Naldanga Police Station, refuted the allegations. "We recorded the cases of those who came to us. We're also trying our best to find the suspects."
In Pabna, local Jamaat leader Dulal Khan was attacked early Monday.
IN CHATTOGRAM
Masked men hurled crude bombs and threw chunks of bricks at the homes and a business of three BNP leaders over the last 20 days.
Family members said they were living in fear.
Local Jubo Dal President Mohammed Alamgir's home was attacked on Saturday night; BNP leader and ward councillor Shamsul Alam Azad's home was attacked on November 13; and central BNP joint Secretary General Aslam Chowdhury's CNG filling station was vandalised recently.
Contacted, Nayhanul Bari, additional superintendent of police in Sitakunda, said he was aware of the incidents, "But no one lodged any complaint."
(Bulbul Ahmed from Natore and FM Mizanur Rahman from Chattogram contributed to this report.)