Please - Odhikar

throwing stones at them. Four policemen were severely injured by that attack. At first Police
fired blanks to control the situaton but they became more furious and attacked. Then the police
started firing on the mob, finding no other way and two workers were shot. They were taken to
the Chittagong Medical College Hospital and one Shajahan expired that night and Shahabuddin
died the next day. On the other hand Sub inspector Daroga Shirajul Islam was admitted to CMC
in a critical conition. Workers broke his hand. A case was filled against 27 namesd accused and
against 400 unknown people. (Case number 28, date: 21/04/05, Section 143/144/148/149/323/
325/332/ 333 /353/307 of the Penal Code). Twenty-three people were arrested and among them
2 were dead.
On the other hand, Zakir mentioned in his case that on April 20, 2005 at around 11am near Bibi
Mosque of Majhir Ghat Stand road, when he went to supply the jute bags Etly, with two other
known miscreants (mastans), claimed two lak taka from him as a toll. When he refused to pay
the money they started to beat him. He managed to escaped and rushed to his residence in
Dhanialapara. The gang of terrorist followed him and rampaged his house and snatched tk. 2500
from the telephone drawer. But when Odhikar talked to a phone -fax trader, named Salauddin
near the mosque, he said that there had been no such incident that day. Salt trader, Nurul Islam
said the area was normally free from extortion and all traders were united. All traders ran their
business with no trouble. A jute bag and trader Jahangir said that there was no trader named
Zakir in this business. He also said that there was a clash with workers and police in Majhir ghat
area recently. Two workers died in that incident. Answering a question about Etly he informed
that people knew him as a reputed person. He owned transport agencies and a garments
business. Besides that, their family was also known as a wealthy family and possessed a lot of
land and property. Workers relied on him. He was working in favor of Mayor Mohiuddin for the
upcoming election.
On the other hand, Saluddin said that the resident of this area had a strong support for the Awami
League. Etly was arrested to influence the election. At least eight workers were living there who
were voters also. They could do anything for Etly. After the clash with police a case was filled
against at least 400 workers of that area. Workers left the place. Armed police battalion were
placed there. Work continued by borrowing workers from other areas. Traders were immensely
affected by this and on the other hand workers who had fled and their family members were
living inhumanly and near starvation.
Odhikar went to the house of Zakir at the address mentioned in the case and found that the house
belonged to Yeasin and no one named Zakir was living there. Caretaker Shakir Ahmed said that
police and intelligence officials also came in search of Zakir.
Police officials of Double Mooring police station could not provide any clear answers.
Investigating Officer SI Ratan Krishna was not available at the station. Second officer, Shah
Newaz said that the investigation was continuing and if it was found that Mr. Zakir Hossain had
filed a false case, necessary action would be taken against him.
On the other hand, a case was filed in the district magistrate court by Ghat and Storage Secretary
Md. Samshuddin, against Police Commissioner Ajad Hossain and 14 other police officials. The
case was filled on April 26, 2005.
Report 2005
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