Freedom fighter, professor, journalist beaten in group attack by Jamaat-BNP alliance

Staff Correspondent

The students and the public have called for a ‘planned mob’ led by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami to arrest six people, including freedom fighter commander and former minister Latif Siddiqui, following tension at an event organized by the freedom fighters’ new platform ‘Mancha 71’ at the capital’s Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

Although they were taken to the DB office for questioning by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police, the agency claimed that they were brought in “for security reasons.”

The incident occurred at around 12 noon at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Thursday (August 28).

The other two arrested are Professor Hafizur Rahman Karzon and journalist Munjurul Islam Panna. However, the names of the remaining three people were not available.

Journalist Munjurul Islam Panna, who was detained in the incident, wrote on Facebook, “I was present at the freedom fighters’ program organized by Manch’71 in the morning. At one point, there was an attack there. I and Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Curzon were brought from the program site to the DB office.”

A group of people led by Al Amin Russell, who identified themselves as ‘July Fighters’, surrounded the people present there. BNP leaders and activists from Segunbagicha ward were also seen there.

On the other hand, a group of Shibir activists led by Shakib Ahmed, the leader of Dhaka Metropolitan South Chhatra Shibir, raised their hands against Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Curzon.

Shakib, who leads the student movement, is a resident of Ghagtia village in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar. He has been seen in several pictures at the student movement event along with Sadiq Kayem, general secretary of the Central Student Movement, and SM Farhad, president of the Dhaka University Student Movement.

Multiple videos have shown that Latif Siddiqui, who created a mob at a seminar at ‘Stage 71’ under the banner of Awami League, raised his hands against Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Curzon and harassed freedom fighters.

Earlier, it also led the demolition of Dhanmondi 32 by student wing leader Shakib Ahmed.

Hero freedom fighter Golam Mostafa, who was harassed at the event, said, “I came here for the program. Not because of party affiliation, all freedom fighters have been called here; that’s why I came.”

“We started the program. Latif Siddiqui Sahib came. Kamal Hossain Sahib did not come. 20/25 boys came and created a ruckus. They surrounded us.”

While taking Latif Siddiqui away, Shahbagh Police Station SI Rashed said, “Now there is no option but to take them away from here. We are taking them away. The seniors will decide later.”

Shahbagh Police Station OC Khalid Mansur said, “I was not at the scene, ADC sir was present. As far as I know, 6/7 people have been taken to the DB office.”

Upon reaching the venue, it was found that a table in the auditorium was broken. There were a few participants. Several people were making a commotion.

Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Masud Alam said, “Latif Siddiqui and a few others have been taken into DB custody; mainly considering their safety, they have been taken into DB custody. Now we will talk to the seniors and take a decision.”

A person named Keshab Ranjab Sarkar was beaten up and his head was cracked at the venue. And after leaving the reportage, Abdullahil Qayyum, the joint general secretary of JSD and a member of the standing committee, was beaten up.

One of the organizers said, “He was beaten up by BNP people and then taken to Shahbagh police station.”

Abdullahil Qayyum was staying at the Dhaka Reporters Unity during the tension. As he was leaving around 1:45 pm, some local BNP leaders and activists blocked his path in front of the Baishakhi Hotel on Topkhana Road.

Shamim Hossain, leader of Paltan Police Station Jamaat-e-Islami, who came to the scene with the ‘July Warriors’, said, ‘A group is trying to question the 24th by confronting the 71st and 24th.’