300 arrested in 136 cases: Sylhet martyrs’ families disappointed at slow probe
S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Since the change of direction on August 5, cases have been filed in police stations across the country regarding the July uprising, and Sylhet is no exception.
136 cases have been filed in police stations under the jurisdiction of this district and city corporation, including 16 murder cases. About 30,000 people have been accused in these cases. Only 300 accused have been arrested in these cases in the last one year.
There is no significant progress in the investigation either. As a result, the plaintiffs, including the martyrs’ families, are disappointed with the slow pace of the investigation. Not only them, but also lawyers are concerned about the investigation.
The investigation revealed that 16 cases of murder and 120 cases of explosives and attacks have been filed in police stations in Sylhet district and metropolitan area regarding the July-August uprising.
Of these, 92 cases have been filed in police stations under the city corporation.
The number of accused in the district alone is 9,500. Of these, 2,321 are registered and 7,185 are unknown.
Of these, 102 have been arrested by the police. The plaintiffs in five cases have applied to withdraw the cases.
There are 20,222 accused in the cases filed by the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP). Of these, 6,482 are registered and 13,740 are unknown. In this, 177 people have been arrested.
Meanwhile, the top accused in 16 murder cases is former member of parliament from Sylhet-6 constituency and former education minister Nurul Islam Nahid. He has been accused in seven murder cases in Golapganj and two in Beanibazar police station.
District Chhatra League president Nazmul Islam is the accused in the maximum 43 explosive cases filed in the district and metropolitan area. There are also three murder cases against him.
District Chhatra League General Secretary Rahel Siraj is in second place in murder cases.
There are eight murder cases and 36 cases against him under the Explosives Act. Former Beanibazar Upazila Parishad chairman Abul Kashem Pallab is in third place in the murder case. He is accused in seven murder cases, including numerous explosive cases.
The second place in the explosive cases is occupied by the ousted mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury. Two murder cases and 41 cases have been filed against him under the Explosives Act.
In addition, Sylhet District Awami League General Secretary Advocate Nasir Uddin Khan, former Golapganj Municipality Mayor Awami League leader Aminul Islam Rabel, Fulbari UP Chairman Hanif Khan and Golapganj Upazila Awami League Office Secretary Ali Akbar Fakhr are jointly in fourth place in the murder cases. There are numerous cases against each of them, including six murders.