FARIDPUR VIOLENCE: All involved to face action: DIG

News Desk :

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Dhaka Range Rezaul Karim Mallick has said that those responsible for the violence in Bhangaupazila of Faridpur district will be brought to book, he also declared that he intended to detain the “fascists”.

Meanwhile, The SarbadaliyaOikyaParishad has announced a pause in its ongoing protest and blockade campaign to press for the restoration of the old parliamentary constituency boundaries in Faridpur. The suspension will remain in effect from Tuesday until Saturday.
Against this backdrop, the Faridpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) has written to the election commission (EC) secretariat, terming the agitation a “people’s movement” and urging a reconsideration of the decision.

DIG Rezaul Karim Mallicktold a press briefing at Bhanga Police Station Complex around midnight, “We will undoubtedly bring the fascists to justice. I have instructed the authorities concerned to arrest those involved in the violence. The real perpetrators behind the attack will be identified and brought under legal action.”

“We have spoken with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Faridpur regarding Monday’s incident, the law and order situation and public safety. We have also talked with the people who were on duty during the violence,” the Rezaul Karim said.

Mallick also added that “Four to five police personnel were injured during the incident; Legal action will be taken against those involved in Monday’s attack. We are doing everything necessary to maintain public security,”
On Monday, Deputy Commissioner MdKamrul Hasan Molla sent a letter to the EC’s senior secretary, requesting that Algi and Hamirdi unions remain part of constituency 214, Faridpur-4.

The letter stated that the gazette notification of 4 September had redrawn the constituency boundaries, moving the two unions into Faridpur-2. Since then, residents of Bhanga have launched an agitation involving blockades of roads and railways, leading to a serious deterioration in law and order. On 15 September, protesters vandalised and set fire to the offices of the UpazilaNirbahi Officer (UNO), the upazila election office, Bhanga police station, the Highway Police office and several other government establishments, severely disrupting road and rail communication with 21 southern districts.

The DC also wrote that separating Algi and Hamirdi from Bhanga and attaching them to Faridpur-2 had angered ordinary residents of both constituencies. He warned of a wider deterioration in law and order, and appealed for reconsideration so that the two unions might remain within Faridpur-4.

Referring to the damages caused by the attack, the DIG said the district police have been tasked with assessing the losses at Bhanga Police Station, while the Deputy Commissioner has been assigned to evaluate the damages at the UpazilaParishad.

Meanwhile, Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Quamrul Hasan Molla said, “We have talked with the Election Commission, expressing the public’s emotions and sentiments through a report. The commission will review it.”

“We understand people’s emotions. We are working on these concerns. I again urge the residents of Bhanga to wait patiently for the legal process to unfold and refrain from any further protest programmes. You have a good reputation-please ensure no harm comes to the public,” he said.

Regarding the extent of the damage, the DC said a full on-site assessment would be conducted and detailed information shared later.

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, the chairman of Hamirdi Union Parishad set out five demands on behalf of Bhanga residents. “Accept these demands, and we shall return home,” he wrote.

The demands are: reinstating Algi and Hamirdi unions within Bhangaupazila as part of Faridpur-4; releasing all detainees including the chairman; withdrawing false cases against innocent residents; refraining from filing fresh cases; and halting night-time harassment by the administration.