Lured by government allowance, rickshaw puller unknowingly files case against AL, BNP men in Gazipur

A rickshaw puller in Gazipur has filed a case accusing hundreds, including 10 BNP men, not knowing the identity of anyone.

Jahangir Alam, the plaintiff, filed the case with Kashimpur police station on 1 October seeking justice for his injured son who received bullet injuries in his abdomen during the mass uprising on 4 August.

"I went to Showkat Chairman (BNP's Gazipur City unit President Showkat Hossain Sarkar) to seek help. He had assured me that if I file a general diary with the police station, I will receive an allowance from the government. Later, Showkat's man Saiful Islam Sarkar took my signature on a piece of paper, which I could not read due to being uneducated. I have no idea what was written there," Jahangir said.

"I did not file the case on my own volition. It was a mistake. I did not give anyone's name, while I do not know anyone who has been accused. I have committed a sin, now what I want is to get over this case," Jahangir added.

Confirming the matter, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Nazmul Karim Khan assured of looking into the matter.

"I will tell the investigation officer to check if any person has been accused without the knowledge of the plaintiff. I will also check so that no one is harassed in the case," the commissioner said.

Advising the plaintiff to give an affidavit to the court, the commissioner added they will then take actions according to the court.

According to the case statement, the plaintiff's son was shot at his abdomen on 4 August. A total of 102 people, including former Liberation War Affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Awami League's Gazipur City unit President Advocate Azmat Ullah, were named, and some 300 others were accused as unnamed.

It has been alleged that due to internal conflict in BNP's Gazipur City unit, 10 BNP leaders have also been accused in the case.

Abu Saeed Mia, a BNP leader who is among the accused, said he has been falsely accused by Saiful Islam Sarkar due to being a follower of BNP's Gazipur City unit General Secretary Monjurul Karim Rony.

BNP leader Md Mahbub Islam Mohi, another accused in the case, said he along with nine other BNP leaders have been accused in the case by Showkat Hossain Sarkar due to letting Rony hold a meeting in Kashimpur area.

Echoing Saeed and Mohi, former Chhatra Dal leader Md Aynal Mia said he and his son have been falsely accused in the case due to working for former state minister from the BNP, Professor Mannan and his son Rony.

Contacted, Saiful Islam Sarkar refuted the claims, saying, "I don't know anyone named Jahangir and no one by this name came to me. The case was lodged at the police station, go there to find out who did it."

Showkat also denied his involvement, saying, "I am not involved with this case. I did not influence anyone to file this case. It's a complete lie, no one came to me."

However, Showkat said he knows Saiful, who meets him sometimes.

Replying to another question, Showkat added, "I don't know if any BNP man has been accused in the case. If any real BNP member has been accused and if he comes to me, I will provide him with legal assistance."