UP chairman, member suspended over Faridpur workers' lynching
The suspended are UP chairman Shah Asaduzzaman and member Ajit Kumar Biswas, according to a notification issued by the Local Government Division on 7 July
A chairman and a member of Dumain Union Parishad (UP) in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur were suspended after local authorities found their involvement in the fatal beating of two construction workers accused of vandalising a temple idol on 18 April.
The suspended are UP chairman Shah Asaduzzaman and member Ajit Kumar Biswas, according to a notification issued by the Local Government Division on 7 July.
Both of them went into hiding following the incident and are currently at large.
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According to the notification, on 18 April, two construction workers were beaten to death by villagers in Panchapalli under the Dumain union, after being suspected of being involved in a fire incident at the Panchapalli Sarbojanin Kali Temple.
The incident allegedly involved Shah Asaduzzaman and Ajit Kumar. Following recommendations from the Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur, both officials were temporarily suspended, reads the notification.
Madhukhali upazila executive officer was also directed to take necessary steps to declare the positions vacant and issue a gazette notification.
Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Ahsan Talukder said he will implement the ministry's directive in the shortest possible time as per the regulations.
What happened on 18 April?
A fire incident at the Panchapalli Sarbojanin Kali Temple led to suspicions against four construction workers involved in building a wash block at the adjacent Panchapalli Government Primary School. Villagers detained and beat the workers, resulting in the death of two men that night.
Videos of the lynching later surfaced on Facebook, showing Asaduzzaman participating in the assault. Following the video's release, both the chairman and the ward member went into hiding.
According to Madhukhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Miraz Hossain, three separate cases were filed concerning the Panchapalli incident — murder, assault on police, and arson.
So far, 32 individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack on police, with eight of them also charged in the murder case.
Seven have given statements to the court, and multiple attempts to apprehend the UP chairman and member remained unsuccessful, according to the OC
