Brahmanbaria Correspondent

Three leaders of the National Citizens Committee have been allegedly beaten up in Brahmanbaria due to a verbal altercation during the mediation of a case of violence against women.

The incident took place at around 5:15 pm on Sunday, in the room of the general secretary of the District Bar Association. Police rescued the injured and sent them to the hospital for treatment.

The injured are the central joint chief organizer of the National Citizens Committee Md. Ataullah, the organizer of Brahmanbaria district Jihan Mahmud, and the organizer of Sadar Upazila Hasan Nasimul alias Russell. The injured alleged that the general secretary of the Bar Association, Mofizur Rahman, and other lawyers systematically beat them up by turning off the lights in the room. In protest against this incident, leaders and activists of the National Citizens Committee and the anti-discrimination student movement staged a protest in front of the Brahmanbaria Press Club.

According to police, civic committee and bar association sources, a woman named Rabeya Khatun from Kuti Lishiara village in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria filed a case against her husband Md. Habibullah at the Brahmanbaria Women and Child Abuse Prevention Tribunal three-four months ago. Rabeya Khatun is the aunt of Md. Ataullah, joint chief organizer of the National Civic Committee. After three hearings of the case, the court ordered the lawyers of both sides to resolve the matter with both parties. District Bar Association General Secretary Mofizur Rahman is the lawyer for Habibullah in the court. Later, the date for the settlement session was fixed at around 5 pm on Sunday in Mofizur Rahman's room.

According to lawyer and eyewitness sources, people from both sides started reaching the room of the Bar Association General Secretary around 5 pm. However, people from Rabeya Khatun's side reached a little late. Ataullah, Jihan Mahmud and Hasan Nasimul reached Mofizur Rahman's room at 5:10 pm. Ataullah and others had an argument with the lawyers over the issue of arriving late. Hasan Nasimul, who was with them, introduced Ataullah to the lawyers. This angered the lawyers. At one stage, the lawyers and their assistants beat Ataullah, Jihan Mahmud and Hasan Nasimul of the National Citizens Committee. Upon receiving the news, members of the police and army reached the spot. The lawyers had already left the scene.

Md. Ataullah told the media , "I went to the court for bail for someone. Later, a relative of Kasba called me to introduce myself and took me to the room of the general secretary of the Bar Association. I went there with an innocent heart. After hearing our identity, they started beating us. At one stage, they turned off the lights and closed the door and beat us. I called the SP and went on Facebook live." He complained and said that Mofizur Rahman is the legal affairs secretary of the district Awami League. He beat us in a planned manner with fuel. Nasimul needed six stitches on his head.

Hasan Nasimul said, "We went on behalf of Ataullah Bhai's relatives. Before talking about the matter, Ataullah Bhai started introducing himself. Immediately after that, other lawyers including the general secretary of the Bar Association started behaving excitedly. During the argument, they started beating him."

It was not possible to contact Mofizur Rahman and the president of the District Bar Association as they did not pick up the phone despite repeated attempts.

Sadar Police Station OC Md. Mozaffar Hossain told Prothom Alo that no one had filed any complaint in this incident. Legal action will be taken if a complaint is received.

Arriving at the District Bar Association building, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jabedur Rahman told reporters that "lawyers from both sides sat at the District Bar Association building to resolve the family matter related to dowry of Rabeya Khatun and her husband Habibullah." Ataullah may have reached the arbitration meeting on the advice of his aunt. This is a personal and family case. Let me make it clear that there is no partisanship or political issue here.

There was an argument and a fight between the two parties. Three members of the National Citizens Committee, including Ataullah, were injured. I reached the spot and quickly sent them to the hospital for treatment. If they file a complaint, we will take it into consideration.