Workers' Party leader, 5 family members arrested

Arrested leader Khwaja Md Abdul Majid, Rajshahi district president of the party's front organisation the Bangladesh Krishak Samity was termed in the case by police as the Rajshahi regional leader of the outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP).

Immediately protesting the arrest, local WP leaders and workers demonstrated on the court premises and demanded his release.

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WP politbureau member Fazle Hossain Badsha in a press statement on Monday termed the incident as the ruling party's bid to blame opposition leaders for the worsening law and order.

In the case, plaintiff Abdul Wases Lal alleged that Abdul Majid, also chairman of Jhikra Union Parishad in Bagmara was the 'main culprit' in the killing incident.

Police seized the motor cycle of Majid and alleged that it was used in the killing incident.

Five other arrested are -- Majid's nephews Zahangir Alam Boltu and Rashed Kabir, Majid's cousins -- Zillur Rahman and Mojahar Ali Sardar and Jhikra Union Parishad member Shukur Ali.

Abdul Hamid, 52, vice president of the district BNP and former president of Bagmara upazila BNP was shot and later slaughtered to death by underground outlaws at Ghospara in the city on Sunday evening.

However, an unidentified telephone caller claiming himself to be a regional leader of PBCP took the responsibility of murder.

He said that he identified Hamid as one of their 'class enemies' and took his life at 6.10pm.

The victim's family members told this correspondent that Hamid filed at least 10 general diaries to the concerned police stations alleging that he was threatened to be killed by outlaws.

"He (Hamid) sought security measures from police several times for his life safety, but all his appeals went in vain", alleged Mitali, university going daughter of the victim.