Case against 63 including journalist by drug dealer posing as Jubo Dal men alleged
Chattogram Bureau
A case has been filed five and a half years later by a identified drug dealer over an alleged attack during the campaign of the BNP-nominated candidate in the Chattogram-8 by-election.
The case names 63 leaders and activists of the Awami League, including a journalist, as accused. Although the drug dealer claimed to be a member of Boalkhali Jubo Dal, local BNP and Upazila BNP leaders have denied this.
Local residents, however, say that no such incident occurred at the time mentioned in the case.
The case was filed on September 14 by one Md. Touhidul Islam. He himself is an accused in a drug-related case and has been jailed. Several videos of his arrest with drugs have gone viral on social media.
According to the case, on January 9, 2020 at around 11 a.m., in the area near Manchur Aulia Mazar gate, during campaigning for the BNP-nominated candidate in Chattogram-8 by-election, the accused allegedly detonated several cocktail bombs and fired indiscriminately. They reportedly attacked people with iron rods, hockey sticks, SS pipes, and lathis, and set two motorcycles on fire. When the injured sought treatment at the Upazila Hospital, Awami League goons allegedly blocked them and assaulted them there as well.
Local people, however, claimed that no such attack took place in Boalkhali on January 9, 2020. News reports of attacks during BNP campaigning were published on January 3.
The FIR names 63 people as accused, including local journalist Syed Muhammad Nazrul Islam, and also lists another 100–150 unidentified individuals.
Local sources say that Touhidul Islam is a notorious drug dealer in the area. He was arrested last year for selling drugs after locals handed him over to the police. He has also faced cases under the Narcotics Control Act and has been detained before. A video of his arrest went viral on Facebook. Rahmat Ali Chowdhury, former president of Charandweep Union BNP, posted on his personal Facebook that there is no BNP, Jubo Dal, or Chhatra Dal member named Touhidul Islam.
Md. Azgar, General Secretary of Chattogram South District Jubo Dal, said, “I’m from Boalkhali. I don’t know anyone named Touhidul Islam, and there is no one by that name in our organization. I have been in charge of the district for seven and a half years and was previously in charge at the police station. Touhidul Islam is not part of Jubo Dal. I don’t know anything about this case. I saw it on Facebook, but the complainant is not a member of Jubo Dal.”
Md. Iqbal, Upazila Jubo Dal Convener of Boalkhali, said, “Someone has filed a case using the name of our Jubo Dal, but he is not part of our organization. We will hold a press conference on this. Even though he is not a member, he is using our name.”
Haji Abu Kalam Abu, former mayor of Boalkhali Municipality, who was present at the site during the alleged January 3, 2020 attack, said, “During the Chattogram-8 by-election campaign in Boalkhali, attacks occurred near the houses of BNP-nominated candidate Abu Sufian, Upazila BNP President Mostak Ahmed Khan, and Nawab Ali Saudagar. But that was a long time ago. Who filed the case now? It’s unclear who filed it from where. I was not involved in any party activities, nor do I have any contact with party leaders. I also do not know the complainant.”
Syed Muhammad Nazrul Islam, accused in the case and Organizing secretary of Boalkhali Press Club, as well as Correspondent of English daily Morning Glory in Chattogram and Daily Chattogram Protidin in Boalkhali, said, “I was shocked to see my name in a case filed five and a half years later over an attack during the 2020 BNP campaign. The FIR mentions January 9, but no incident occurred that day. I am wondering how my name ended up in this case. I did hear about the January 3 attacks in Boalkhali during the Chattogram-8 by-election campaign, but I was not there. There were many news reports about that day’s incident.”
Boalkhali police OC Lutfor Rahman said, “On September 14, a case was filed by an individual regarding attacks, cocktail explosions, and gunfire during the campaign of the BNP-nominated candidate in the 2020 Chattogram-8 by-election. A journalist is also named. We are investigating. The case has been filed five years later, and accurate details will be presented in court based on our investigation.”
The OC also said that there were no prior complaints against Syed Muhammad Nazrul Islam at the police station.
When contacted, the complainant Md. Touhidul Islam denied being Touhidul Islam upon learning the journalist’s identity and hung up. He did not respond to repeated calls afterwards.
