AL men demolish minority right group leader’s house in city

Local Awami League activists demolished the under construction tin-sheds of a rights activist at Kalunagar under Kamrangirchar in the capital and looted valuables and construction materials from there early Sunday.

The victim, Rabindra Ghosh, president of Bangladesh Minority Watch, said that the attack was launched to grab his land and as he declined to pay the amount demanded by the attackers.

 

Rabindra, now residing at RK Mission Road in the city, said that he bought two kathas of land at Kalunagar Mouja under Kamrangirchar in 2010 and local influential had several times threatened him to evict from the land.

‘On Sunday, sometimes after 1:00am’, he alleged, ‘the attackers attacked the under construction buildings, demolished them, beat up the workers staying there, took away their mobile phones, cash money, construction materials, tins and timbers from the house.’

He said he was not on the spot then.

‘Those who attacked and destroyed my building are ruling Awami League men,’ he said.

He alleged that he began construction works on his land in the first week of March and erected two tin-shed buildings.

Rabindra’s wife Krishna Ghosh lodged a case with Kamrangirchar Police Station on March 25 naming seven local people and 50 to 60 unidentified others for the attack, destruction and looting.

The accused named in the case are Md Lokman, Md Shahidullah, Md Jinu, Siraj, Ismail, Maksudur Rahman and Md Siraj, all residents of Kamrangirchar.

Kamrangirchar Police Station officer-in-charge Shahin Fakir told New Age that they arrested Md Siraj. ‘Drive is on to arrest others.’

National Human Rights Commission chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque expressed his concern and condemned the attack.

One of the accused, Ismail, told New Age that Rabindra’s wife Krishna lodged case against Awami League men and claimed that he was not involved in the attack or demanding toll.

Local ward councillor Nure Alam, also vice-president of Kamrangirchar thana AL, told New Age that Rabindra had been constructing tin sheds grabbing and filling a canal. ‘Local people resisted it and foiled his illegal activities.’

- Mar 28,2018