Union BNP leader Abdus Sattar forcibly occupied a government canal. After beating the lessee, he threatened to kill him. The BNP leader also threatened to kill a witness named Shahidul who testified when the lessee filed a case in court.
The incident took place at around 7:30 pm on Wednesday (July 23) in Handial Bazar of Handial Union in Chatmohar Upazila of Pabna. The victim filed a written complaint against Abdus Sattar and his two sons at Chatmohar Police Station on Thursday.
The accused Abdus Sattar is the son of deceased Yakub Musulli of Hasumpur village in Handial union of the upazila. He is the former organizing secretary of Handial union BNP. On the other hand, the victim Shahidul Islam is the son of deceased Hazrat Ali of Handial village in the upazila.
The complaint and related sources say that in 1999, some beneficiaries of the area first leased the large pit or canal of the WAPDA dam of the Pabna Water Development Board located in Handial and Nimaichada unions of Chatmohar upazila for five years. One of them is the victim, Sanwar Khandaker. Although there was no problem in occupying the canal from the beginning, after August 5, the canal leased by Sanwar Khandaker was taken over by the accused BNP leader Abdus Sattar. Despite showing valid documents, he threatened and beat the victim not to enter the canal. Abdus Sattar even looted fish worth four lakh taka and threatened to kill the victim. In April last year, the victim, Sanwar Khandaker, filed a case against Sattar in the Pabna Executive Court, alleging illegal occupation by force. Shahidul Islam testified against Sattar in this case. As a result, he threatened to kill him. He was severely beaten and injured in Handial Bazar on Wednesday night (July 23). The injured Shahidul is undergoing treatment at Chatmohar Upazila Health Complex.
In this regard, the injured Shahidul said, "Many of us cultivate government canals on lease. When the sattar wanted to take possession of that canal by force, they attacked and beat me with the intention of killing me because I gave testimony in a case related to this. They attacked me with the intention of killing me. I had 1 lakh taka for selling fish. They also snatched that. I want justice for this."
Some locals, who do not wish to be named, said that after August 5, Sattar has been doing whatever he wants in the area due to political influence. He has been doing various misdeeds, including land grabbing, arbitration and extortion, ignoring the law. If you do not follow his orders, you will face wrath.
Confessing the incident of beating, accused Abdus Sattar said, "My son and Shahidul had a fight. Both of them beat each other up. I was not there at the time. False allegations are being made against me."
In response to a question, he said, "My dispute with Sanwar Khandaker over land. I don't know the reason for Shahidul's dispute with my son. All the other allegations brought against me are also false."
In this regard, District BNP Member Secretary Ed. Masud Khandaker said, "There is no opportunity to get involved in any kind of crime using party identity. The matter will be investigated and looked into. Besides, since the victim has filed a complaint with the police station, I urge the administration to investigate and take appropriate action."
Chatmah Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Manjurul Alam said the victim of the beating has filed a written complaint. Legal action will be taken in this regard.
