BNP Leader Who Lost a Hand Resisting Public Opposition While Attacking and Looting a Jubo League Leader’s Home: How Is He a ‘July Warrior’?

❐ Local correspondent

There was jubilation in Mymensingh after the overthrow of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. But a brutal incident that night has recently sparked widespread discussion and criticism on social media. At the center of the discussion is Al Amin (38), the joint convener of the Kotwali police station branch of the BNP’s Tanti Dal and recognized as a ‘July fighter’ in the government list.

After pictures and statements of a bruise on one hand and a severed wrist on the other were circulated, there has been a lot of confusion surrounding his ‘story of being injured’.

Although Al Amin claims that he was attacked by the Awami League-backed ward commissioner’s men on his way home after the victory procession, the statements of local witnesses and protesting students completely contradict Al Amin’s claim.

Al Amin claimed in a case filed with Kotwali Police Station on October 16, 2024, that he was attacked in front of the office of the then Commissioner of Ward No. 29, Rasheduzzaman Roman, at approximately 6:30 pm on August 5.

However, eyewitnesses and local leaders of the movement said that all the victory processions in the city stopped before the evening of August 5. People returned home. Across the country, leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliates left their homes and went into hiding after noon, fearing for their lives. Al Amin himself admitted that their victory procession was supposed to end in the afternoon.

Al Amin’s house is in the Sankipara Sheshmore area of ​​Ward No. 4. However, the incident took place in Kalpa village of Ward No. 29, more than 2 kilometers away from his house. Given the location of the two separate places, no one goes to Kalpa village after crossing Ward No. 4 on the way back to the city. As a result, the claim of “attack on the way back home” does not fit the geographical reality.

According to the students leading the movement and eyewitnesses, the incident did not occur in the afternoon or evening, but between 9 and 11 pm.

According to Sultan Mohammad Rohan, leader of the anti-discrimination student movement, 8-10 people, including Jubo Dal leaders Asaduzzaman Navin and Al Amin, went to Kalpa village on a few motorcycles to establish dominance. There was already business and political rivalry there.

An activist named ‘Akash’ (name not being disclosed for security reasons) who was present at the movement said that after the vandalism and looting of the house of the Jubo League leader, the villagers unitedly used a microphone in the mosque and shouted, “Robbers have fallen.” The entire village, including women and children, surrounded them. At one stage of the chase and counter-chase, when Al Amin fell on the slippery road while trying to escape, the villagers caught him. Then, thinking he was a robber, they attacked him and cut off his hand.

Gokul Sutradhar Manik, coordinator of the Mymensingh July Movement, has now raised questions about Al Amin’s being a ‘July fighter’.

He said that Al Amin was not seen at any stage of the movement, including the killing of Redwan Hossain Sagar on July 19. Local students have expressed anger over how he suddenly got his name listed in the gazetted ‘July Fighters’ list, is drawing regular allowances, and has usurped various privileges including one-time financial assistance.