A civic group called Sankshudbha Nagarik Samaj, or the aggrieved citizens’ group, held a protest rally at Raju Memroial in Dhaka University on Friday demanding an early arrest and punishment of killers of Tanvir Muhammad Tawki, son of cultural activist Rafiur Rabbi of Narayanganj.
The group also demanded an end to ‘the reign of terror unleashed by local Awami League leader Shamim Osman.’
Politicians, university teachers, cultural and rights activists, students and others also held the administration and ruling party leaders responsible for not arresting Shamim Osman and termed him ‘the man behind the Taaki killing and godfather of Narayanganj.’
They alleged that the administration was not taking action against the ‘killers’ as they were important to the ruling party for votes in Narayanganj.
Tawki was found dead in canal of the River Sitalakhya at Charargop in Narayanganj on March 8, two days after he had gone missing. He was son of Rafiur Rabbi, an organiser of Ganajagaran Mancha in Narayanganj.
Jahangirnagar University teacher Naseem Akhter Hussain, convener of the civic group, said, ‘We are aggrieved…. The movement will continue until the godfather was eliminated and terrorism stopped.’
‘Shamim Osman is committing crimes with the help of the administration,’ she added.
Communist Party of Bangladesh adviser Manjural Ahsan Khan said, ‘All Naryanganj people know that Shamim Osman was behind the killing but he has not been arrested as the ruling party needs Shamim Osman for votes.’
The Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary, Saiful Haq, said, ‘The state and the administration have sided with identified killers. We demand the arrest of Shamim Osman in 48 hours.’
The Gana Sanghati coordinator, Zonayed Saki, said, ‘Hated characters of the ruling class have been exposed to the public with the killing of Tawki.’
Rights activist Khushi Kabir said, ‘Tawki was killed at the order of Shamim Osman.’
Garments Workers’ Unity Forum leader Mushrefa Mishu said, ‘Godfathers like Shamim are committing crimes under the direct patronisation of the state.’
Singer Maqsoodul Haque, cultural activist Arup Rahee, Narayanganj Santras Nirmul Tawki Mancha leader Halim Azad, also the Naryanganj Press Club president, Rathin Chakrabarty, also the Naryanganj Khelaghar president, along with others, addressed the rally.
The CPB president, Mujahidul Islam Selim, freedom fighter Ferdousi Priyabhasini, columnist Rahnuma Ahmed, Dhaka University teacher Gitiara Nasreen, engineer M Enamul Haque and others attended.
The speakers said that in the past two years, many Narayanganj people were killed, including 31 in only six weeks. Tawki’s killing is a warning to all that no one is safe.
Tawki’s father Rabbi filed a murder case but did not name any suspects. He wrote a ‘complaint letter’ to the superintendent of police in which he mentioned seven suspects, including Shamim Osman and Ayan Osman.
The mayor of Narayanganj, Selina Hayat Ivy, blamed Shamim Osman for the killing at a local rally on March 15. (Source)
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