The middle-age style horrific murder of Trader Chand Mia aka Shohag in broad daylight near Mitford Hospital last Thursday has not only shocked the nation , but also questions the source of unimaginable degree of brutality exhibited by killers clearly recorded in the graphic CCTV footage that went viral.The video footage showed a group of men slamming the lifeless body of victim with concrete blocks in full public presence.
So far, Police have arrested 5 suspects, though without confirming any political links. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is conducting a shadow investigation into the incident while DMP's investigation unit is also handling the case.
On the topic of identifying the killers it has been widely alleged by multiple parties,with and without evidence that the victim had refused to pay extortion money demanded by local Jubo Dal, BNP youth faction leaders.Responding to the refusal the killing took place in such gruesome manner.
However, though BNP was quick to condemn the killing and Jubo Dal expelled two of their leaders for life. Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a statement 'rejecting the violence and insisting such actions had no place in BNP's ideology'.
We can only believe in his statement with a pinch of salt, given the flood of cases of mob lynching, rape, violence and rampant extortion being regularly reported in the media involving BNP leaders, party men and activists. It is more than just open secret that despite repeated objections and warnings from the party's top-brass and disciplinary measures, BNP appears to be failing to maintain control over its corrupt and rogue leaders, activists and party men.
Let words and statistics speak louder, according to rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK)349 incidents of political violence took place across the country over the past 11 months, leaving 87 people dead and 3,929 injured. BNP and its affiliated organisations had been reportedly linked to 323 of these incidents claiming lives of at least 77 BNP men and injured 3,653 more.
However, the party's three affiliated wings have already expelled 5 activists in connection with the recent brutal killing of Shohag. But is that enough for a country's major political party as BNP to clean off widely mushrooming rogue and greedy elements from within? Concurrently, the Dhaka police commissioner too was markedly slow in responding to the horrific killing.
While the police and BNP have engaged in a dirty blame game, it is the innocent citizens of Bangladesh those are increasingly turning insecure and vulnerable due to near miserable law & order situation.
We are drawing urgent attention of the Interim Government for its noticeable failures while call for ensuring speedy justice in Shohag murder case.
