Raozan (Chattogram) Corresponden

A series of murders have recently shaken the Raozan area of Chattogram, with allegations surfacing that innocent individuals are being falsely accused in these cases.

Reports suggest that five innocent people have been wrongfully implicated in three sensational murder cases, creating unrest in the community.

This not only hampers the progress of the investigations but also allows the real culprits to evade justice.

There are also allegations of monetary dealings in exchange for dropping names from the case lists.

The police’s silence on these high-profile murders has raised questions about the transparency and integrity of the investigations. Locals believe that broadcasting live on Facebook to find the accused is a ploy to protect them rather than arrest them.

According to reports, after the murder of businessman Manik Abdullah in Raozan, his wife, Chemon Ara Begum, filed a murder case on April 19.

Among the accused is Ismail Hossain (50), son of Rafiqul Islam Talukdar from Chakina’s parental home in Ward 3 of Sarafbhata Union, Rangunia. Ghulam Akbar Khondakar, convenor of BNP North Chattogram district, alleged in a press conference at Chattogram Press Club on April 25 that Ismail was falsely accused.

 Additionally, the 9th accused in the same case is Md. Jamal (44), son of the late Md. Kamal of West Betagi village, who has also been claimed innocent by his family.

On April 22, a youth named Mohammad Ibrahim, reportedly a member of the Jubo Dal, was shot dead in broad daylight. His mother, Khaleda Begum, filed a case listing 8 people by name and 4-5 unnamed individuals.

Among them is businessman S.M. Shahidullah Rony (40), a developer and brickfield owner residing in Chattogram city. Interestingly, during the attack on Ibrahim, another man named Nayeem was also shot. Nayeem’s brother, Abdul Mannan, filed a separate case mentioning 18 names along with 5-6 unidentified suspects. Sources indicate that the same assailants were involved in both incidents, raising concerns about discrepancies in the list of accused and potential misuse of ghost cases to harass innocent individuals.

When asked about the case, S.M. Shahidullah Rony said, “Despite the murder occurring in broad daylight, I was falsely implicated. I wasn’t even in Raozan on the day of the incident.” He said he has filed written appeals to the Chief Adviser to the Bangladesh Government, the IGP, the Superintendent of Police, and the Raozan police station, seeking withdrawal of the false charges.

 “I’m a businessman, not involved in politics. I was targeted because I previously refused extortion demands. I’ve never been involved in any criminal activity and regularly pay over 2.5 million BDT in taxes and VAT annually,” he added.

In response, the plaintiff, Khaleda Begum, said she does not personally know the accused. “My brother-in-law, Abdul Halim, provided the names,” she said. When asked about innocent people being accused, she added, “If someone is innocent, my brother-in-law will consider removing their names.”

In another case, following the murder of Jubo Dal activist Komor Uddin Jitu in the Haldia Union of Raozan on March 18, his wife, Daisy Akhter, filed a case. Mahiyuddin Jibon, a BNP member of the upazila unit, has claimed he was wrongfully accused as the prime suspect. He stated that during a conflict over taking down a banner, he intervened to deescalate tensions and had no involvement in the murder. “The allegation that I gave the order for the attack is completely false and baseless,” he said, accusing political rivals of trying to tarnish his reputation.

The case also names small-time businessmen Md. Sayed (45), flower shop owner Md. Mamun (45), and fish hatchery worker Md. Ibrahim (30) as accused. Mamun, speaking over the phone, said, “Jitu was killed due to internal BNP conflict. There is CCTV footage of the scene. If police analyze it properly, innocent people like us can be freed from harassment.” He added that he has closed his shop and gone into hiding, and his family is in financial distress.

Md. Sayed echoed the sentiment, saying, “Small people like me are being accused to weaken the case. The real killers have been left out. I demand an impartial investigation.”

Daisy Akhter, wife of the deceased Komor Uddin, said, “I didn’t name anyone. The police provided the list of accused.” She also expressed dissatisfaction with the failure to arrest a key suspect after the murder. Police later confirmed that one person had been arrested in connection with the case.

Raozan Police Station OC  Monirul Islam Bhuiyan, said, “We are registering the cases based on the complainants’ statements. Innocent individuals will be excluded following a proper investigation.