Police on alert as outlaws 'vow' to avenge Mofakhkharul's 'killing'

This followed Wednesday's meeting of leaders of seven outlawed parties in Jhenidah town where they 'vowed to avenge the killing' of their leader Mofakhkharul Islam by RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) last week. Mofakhkharul was founder of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML).

The Daily Star correspondents in Kushtia and Magura confirmed from several sources that leaders of the seven outlawed parties held their meeting on the premises of BSCIC (Bangladesh Small Cottage Industries Corporation) estate at about 10 am Wednesday.

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To evade attention of police and local people, they had gathered a small number of destitute people to show that it was a meeting of landless people to demand government land.

Our Kushtia correspondent also talked to a top leader of one of the parties, who confirmed holding of the meeting but declined to be named.

Some newsmen in Jhenidah also saw the meeting and recognised some of the leaders but did not file any report either fearing reprisal or due to request by the outlaws, our Kushtia correspondent reported yesterday.

According to the sources, the outlaws at the meeting also formed "several killing squads" for "operations in 10 southwestern and six northern districts".

News about the meeting was revealed in a press release issued on Thursday night, signed by Sabuz, a leader of Gano Mukti Fouz, one of the seven parties. Copies of the press release were left in letterboxes at local newspaper offices.

The seven parties are Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML), Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddho), Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Red Flag), Bangladesh Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF), Biplobi Anuragi, Bangladesh Socialist Party (BSP) and Jashod Gono Bahini (JGB).

The meeting was presided over by Sabuz, chief of GMF in the region, while Shilon of PBCP (Janajuddho, Shibu of PBCP (Red Falg), Gias of PBCP (ML), Urmi and Sathi of GMF, Swadesh Bhai of RD, Tapan Mahmud of BSC and Narayan of JGB addressed the meeting, among others.

The meeting observed one-minute silence to show respect to the memory of Mofakhkharul.

Speakers at the meeting claimed that 45 of their men were earlier "killed by law enforcers" but "heart attack" was stated to the cause in each case.

Later, another 80 party activists were killed by law enforcers in the name of 'crossfire', the press release said. The press release blamed BNP-led four party alliance government for the killings.

They said killings in so-called 'crossfire' is violation of human rights and they will avenge all the "killings", the press release said.

Our Jhenidah correspondent contacted Khulna Range Inspector General Abdul Aziz Sarkar over cell phone yesterday. The IG told him that they were investigating the matter.

"I asked all police superintendents and police stations including outposts to verify the matter.

"Police are always on alert", he said in reply to a question.

Jhenidah Police Superintendent Akrak Hossain said, "We are not aware of such a meeting. The matter is being verified".