Police reject case against Companiganj’s Quader Mirza, Badal sent to jail

Companiganj Police Station did not accept the case filed against Basurhat Municipality Mayor Abdul Quader Mirza over a clash between Awami League factions in the municipality that left a man killed and 30 others injured.

However, the police have accepted three cases filed against Companiganj upazila Awami League Organising Secretary Mizanur Rahman Badal and his supporters.

Police produced Badal in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Friday afternoon and the judge, Shoaib Uddin Khan, sent him to district jail following a hearing.

After the arrest of Badal from the Noakhali Press Club area on Friday morning, police and RAB members were deployed outside the Basurhat Municipality building.

In another incident, Emdad Hossain, younger brother of the deceased auto-rickshaw driver Alauddin, who died during the clash, filed a complaint with the Companiganj Police Station at around 9pm on Thursday, accusing 30-40, including Quader Mirza, his brother Shahadat Hossain and son Mirza Masroor Quader Tasik and 164 unidentified people.

Police refused to immediately record the case saying that there are some errors in the case. He was asked to come again the next morning. Emdad came to the police station again on Friday morning with the copy of the statement but he could not meet the officer-in-charge (OC), Mir Jahedul Haque Rony even after waiting till 2pm.

Emdad alleged that the police did not record the case as Abdul Quader Mirza was made the main accused in it. He also alleged that the police forced him to remove Quader Mirza's name.

"But I will not bow to any pressure. I will go to court on Saturday and file a case there," he said.

Meanwhile, making Badal the prime accused, Basurhat Municipality Office Assistant Nur Nabi Shapon filed a case on Thursday against 99 people, including two nephews of Quader Mirza, and 250-300 unidentified people for allegedly attacking and vandalising the municipal building.

The police have not accepted the case of freedom fighter Khizir Hayat's wife too.

On 8 March, Quader Mirza and his followers allegedly attacked Khizir Hayat Khan, the president of the Upazila Awami League, beat him. Injured Khizir Hayat was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for better treatment.

On 9 March, his wife Arjuman Parveen went to Companiganj Police Station with a written statement, which named 98 people, including Abdul Quader Mirza, his brother Shahadat Hossain and his son Mashroor Quader Tasik.

Arjuman alleged that the police had not recorded the case even in the last four days.

Badal's mother, wife and sisters held a press conference demanding his release on Friday. They said Badal is a successful chairman of the upazila and became the best chairman of the Chattogram division. His father was a heroic freedom fighter. They appealed to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader to properly investigate the murder and release Badal and take action against Mirza.

Companiganj Police Station OC Mir Zahidul Haque Rony said the police were continuing drives to arrest those involved in the clash. On Friday, six people including Musapur Union Sechchhasebak League Secretary Iqbal Chowdhury were arrested. The police have also seized seven crude bombs and 26 sticks.

To keep the situation under control, additional police personnel have been deployed in the municipal area to control the situation. RAB members are also patrolling, he added.

A frightening atmosphere was prevailing in the municipal area. Trade and commerce have slowed down as businessmen are in constant panic in the ongoing situation. Local businessmen and people from different walks of life want Awami League higher authorities to intervene so that they can get rid of this dreadful situation.

Since the clash between the two sides on Tuesday, Mayor Abdul Quader Mirza took a position in Basurhat Municipality. The building was monitored by members of the intelligence agencies.

Quader Mirza, along with his supporters and municipality officials, went around the Basurhat market and did show-downs on Friday.