Attack on Imprisoned Awami League Leader in Bogura

Local Correspondent

Abu Sufian (Shafiq), the imprisoned president of Bogura Sadar Upazila Awami League and former chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad, was subjected to a terrorist attack while in police custody during a court appearance. The assault occurred inside the jail premises.

The incident took place around 2 PM on Tuesday, April 15, inside the holding cell of Bogura Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Human rights activists have expressed outrage over this shameful attack on a detainee under police custody.

Abu Sufian and his family members alleged to journalists that four individuals attacked him inside the jail on the instructions of court inspector Mosaddek Hossain. The attackers were accused in a murder case from Shahjanpur Police Station. Sufian stated: “I had no prior acquaintance with the attackers. Inside the jail toilet, four murder accused including Sagar and Jalil pounced on me, threw me to the ground, and indiscriminately beat my head and waist. Though I complained to the court inspector, no action was taken against the attackers.”

His daughter Sadia Sufian, who came to meet him in court, alleged that despite the attack inside jail custody, her father wasn’t taken to hospital but directly sent back to prison. She demanded punishment for the attackers and proper medical treatment for her father, saying: “My father isn’t safe even in prison – he’s facing attacks there too.”

Court inspector Mosaddek Hossain claimed that Abu Sufian, arrested in a case filed over attacks on students during July’s mass uprising, was brought to court as scheduled. He stated that after an altercation with other accused, prison police immediately removed Sufian to safer custody.

Bogura District Police spokesperson Suman Ranjan Sarkar said any jail assault would be legally investigated with appropriate action.

Police identified the attackers as Shahjanpur’s “Sagar Bahini” leader Sagar Hossain Talukdar (35) alias “Tokai Sagar” and his associate Swapan (32), accused in a double murder case from September 22 last year.

Abu Sufian’s wife Mahfuja Khanam, women’s affairs secretary of Sadar Upazila Awami League and former district council member, was also recently arrested. Though granted bail by High Court on February 15, she was rearrested under a different case while returning home.

Since August 5, this family has faced multiple attacks allegedly by BNP activists, including arson and looting. With both parents imprisoned, their children are living in insecure, inhuman conditions.