AL Leader Abducted, Assaulted: Anti-Discrimination Student Group Allegedly Involved

Staff Correspondent

Former central organising secretary of the Awami League, Misbah Uddin Siraj, was reportedly abducted and assaulted by members of an anti-discrimination student movement.

The incident allegedly occurred late Thursday night in the Subidbazar area of Sylhet city, said Mohammad Saiful Islam, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

Although the incident took place on Thursday, it only came to public attention on Friday night.

Sylhet Kotwali Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Ziaul Haque said on Friday night, “No formal complaint has been filed yet. We are investigating the matter.”

On Saturday, ADC Mohammad Saiful Islam added, “We have heard about the attack on Advocate Misbah Uddin Siraj. However, the reasons behind it and the identities of the attackers remain unclear.

“It has been confirmed that he received treatment at Al Haramain Hospital. He has multiple cases against him. Additionally, we have learned that miscreants abducted him and demanded ransom for his release. We are looking into the matter.”

Misbah Siraj served three terms as the party’s central organisational secretary. He also held key positions as a public prosecutor at the district judge court, former president of Sylhet District Chhatra League, and former member of the central Chhatra League.

Several Awami League leaders said Misbah Siraj was heading to a residence in Subidbazar in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw around midnight on Thursday.

When he reached Fazilchisht in Subidbazar, a group of young men on motorcycles intercepted his auto-rickshaw at gunpoint. They forced him into another auto-rickshaw and took him to an unknown location.

Awami League leaders alleged that the attackers, claiming to be anti-discrimination student activists, assaulted Misbah Siraj and extorted ransom from him. The abductors reportedly used Siraj’s personal mobile phone to demand Tk 1 crore from his family.

After the ransom was paid, Siraj was found in a bloodied state near Sagar Dighi’s Par area around 3:30 am.

He was taken to Al Haramain Hospital in Sobhanighat at 4 am, where doctors performed surgery on him. By Friday morning, his family moved him to a safer location via ambulance for further treatment.

Dr. Chowdhury Nahian of Al Haramain Hospital told reporters, “Relatives brought Misbah Uddin Siraj to the hospital around 4 am. He underwent surgery for a severe injury below his left knee. They claimed it was caused by an accident.”

He added, “We discharged him around 10 am on Friday after the surgery. His family then took him away.”

Acknowledging the incident, Misbah Uddin Siraj’s daughter, Muntaha Ahmad Misbah, said, “My father’s condition is critical. We have taken him elsewhere for better treatment. Please pray for his recovery.”