Withdraw partisan CMP commissioner: Mayor

Police snapping the wire from mike arranged for the janaza of the two labourers at Laldighi Maidan on Friday. The janaza was held without mike. PHOTO: STAR

Another labourer, critically injured during Thursday night's clash with police, died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Friday morning, raising the toll to two.

Victim Md Shahabuddin, 35, was a ghat worker at Majheerghat in Doublemooring thana.

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Earlier on Thursday night, labourer Md Shahjahan, 55, was shot dead and at least 25 others including three policemen were injured in the clash between labourers and law enforcers at Maheerghat in the city.

The clash had erupted following the arrest of Mahbubul Haq, president of Ghat Sramik League. Agitated workers set fire to a police van during the clash.

The killing of two workers created widespread anger among workers in Majheerghat area.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) authority's alleged obstruction in holding of their namaj-e-janaza at Laldighi Maidan Friday afternoon fuelled the tense situation in Chittagong yesterday.

Awami League leader and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayror ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club yesterday alleged that the CMP Commissioner has created an "unwanted situation by siding with four-party alliance candidate and state minister for civil aviation and tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin".

Mohiuddin, a Nagoric Committee candidate in the upcoming CCC polls, is trying to retain his mayoral post. Nasiruddin is vying for the post as a four-party alliance candidate.

Police on Friday filed three separate cases with Doublemooring thana in connection with the clash. In one of the cases, specific charges were brought against 28 labourers. Thirty 'unidentified' people were accused in another case.

Awami League sources alleged Shahabuddin died at CMCH following excessive bleeding.

"Police kept bullet-hit Shahabuddin handcuffed while he was being taken to hospital. This caused problem for doctors to provide him blood and saline," alleged an AL leader at the press conference.

They alleged police had also played a "mysterious role on Friday during autopsy of the bodies and namaj-e-janaza.

"The two bodies were brought to Chittaogng General Hospital morgue in the morning for autopsy but it was done in the afternoon due to police obstruction.

Huge contingents of police and BDR had encircled the Laldighi Maidan where namaj-e-janaza for the two labourers were scheduled to take place in the afternoon, AL leaders alleged.

Police in the evening refused to hand over the two bodies. "Police even obstructed Mohiuddin Chowdhury at the morgue when he went there in the evening to receive the two bodies for janaza. After more than two hours' heated exchange of words, police handed over the two bodies to him (Mohiuddin) at 8.15pm on Friday and the janaza was held then, they told the press conference.

Janaza was held at around 9 pm Friday at the Laldighi Maidan without mike as police took away the mikes.

The bodies were sent to their village homes in Bhola, where they were laid to rest yesterday.

At the press conference, Mohiuddin Chowdhury condemned the police role on Thursday and Friday and said these were done either to spoil the CCC polls or reap benefit for Mir Nasir.

"Police, resorted to repression and arrest of the opposition leaders and activists at the instigation of Mir Nasir," he alleged.

He condemned the killing of two labourers and demanded judicial inquiry and exemplary punishment to the persons involved.

AL presidium member Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser, former minister Mosharraf Hossain, Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, Gono Forum leader M Kafiluddin, CPB leader Shah Alam and JSD leader Indu Nandan Datta were also present, among others, at the conference.

Mohiuddin also demanded withdrawal of CMP Commissioner Amjad Hossain before the May 9 Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls.

"Through arrest, intimidation and repression on opposition leaders and activists, the Commissioner has created a panicky situation in the port city ahead of the CCC polls. We think the main motive is to pave the way for the four-party alliance candidate," he alleged.

He said, "The CMP Commissioner has already made his intention clear to all of us and we believe the CCC polls will not be free and fair as long as this man remains there as Commissioner of CMP".

"We earlier complained to the Chief Election Commissioner about the CMP Commissioner and if necessary we will submit another complaint soon," Mohiuddin Chowdhury said.