Most people in Joypurhat district are peace-loving. The political arena of this town was also free from conflict.
Senior Awami League leader and former MP Abbas Ali Mandal, who attended the funeral of BNP leader and former minister Abdul Alim, said that there was no violence or chaos in the political arena of Joypurhat.After the political program, the opposing political leaders would sit together and have tea. I considered Alim Bhai as my elder brother.
I would often go to his chamber. The two brothers would sit and have tea. We would discuss and consult on all personal and family matters. Local observers say that despite ideological differences between the BNP, Jamaat, AL, Jatiya Party and other political parties in the district, there was no major conflict or terrorism.However, the situation took a completely opposite turn after the fascist Hasina came to power for the second term. People spent time in a suffocating environment. Detention, kidnapping, disappearance, mutilation, extrajudicial killings and other persecution of people with opposing views were regular occurrences. The Awami League directly used the law enforcement agencies for these purposes. On the orders of the Awami League leaders, the police filed hundreds of false cases and forced thousands of people from their homes. They had to spend sleepless nights for a long time. Fearing persecution by the autocratic government, they had to
take shelter in crop fields, bamboo groves, graveyards, abandoned buildings and houses. Many were in hiding in various districts including Dhaka. Even then, inhuman torture was carried out by arresting them. Some were sent to jail. If they were released on bail, the police would arrest them again from the jail gate and bring them to jail with new cases. The fear of killing haunted them all the time. The torture continued whenever they opened their mouths.
Mamunur Rashid, assistant secretary of the Jamaat's district branch, told Amar Desh, "Around 25,000 accused were made in 230 cases against Jamaat alone. The accused have been acquitted in 130 cases. The rest are still ongoing."
It is known that many families have become destitute while pursuing the case. Awami terrorists, along with the police, vandalized the Jamaat office and set it on fire. Later, all the Jamaat offices were closed. Regular police guards were posted at the city's central mosque.
Jamaat's district ameer and MP candidate for Joypurhat-1 constituency Dr. Fazlur Rahman Sayeed, secretary Golam Kibria Mandal, assistant secretary Hasibul Alam, Mamunur Rashid, Akkelpur Upazila Parishad vice chairman and MP candidate for Joypurhat-2 constituency Rashedul Alam Sabuj have repeatedly had to go to jail.
District BNP senior joint convener Masud Rana Pradhan said, "The Awami League brought a police superintendent named Molla Nazrul Islam to punish us. He oppressed the grassroots leaders and activists of Joypurhat like in the Jahili era."
He said, in the case of bomb attack at the so-called peace rally of Awami League, my father, former MP Mozahar Ali Pradhan, was ordered to be prosecuted and I was the main accused. Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, the then organizing secretary of A.L., who introduced himself as 'Khadem' in Joypurhat, called me a terrorist in a public meeting and asked to be arrested within 24 hours. On that day, former Awami League MP Adv. Shamsul Alam Dudu, former district Awami League secretary MM Solaiman Ali and other party leaders and activists looted and set fire to the district BNP office and attacked the house of BNP leader Zaheda Kamal.
This BNP leader said, the mobile shop of Jamaat's Hasibul Alam Liton Bhai was looted, vandalized and set on fire. In the same case, Shibir district president Abu Zar Gifari and secretary Omar Ali Babu were subjected to inhuman and inhuman torture. In the name of recovering weapons, both of them were shot in the right knee of their legs in the dark of night. They were permanently paralyzed. At that time, I lived a life of fugitive to save my life. I lost four years of my life.
He said, "We demand a fair trial and exemplary punishment for SP Molla Nazrul Islam's crime, subject to an impartial investigation." He said, "The police often surrounded the BNP office to prevent leaders and activists from coming to the office. There was an unannounced ban on all kinds of political programs. Police obstruction of all kinds of programs was a routine matter."
The AL office was also surrounded by a police cordon for security. Former MP late Mozahar Ali Pradhan had to walk around the court balcony day after day in multiple missing persons cases. He had to stay in jail for a long time due to illness. His city residence was also attacked.
The then convener of the district BNP, Principal ShaFormsul Haque, was arrested from his house and a missing persons case was filed. mer secretary of the district BNP, Professor Aminur Rahman Bakul, was also arrested in that case. Raiding Principal Shamsul Haque's house day and night was routine work of the police. Women and children were in fear all the time. At that time, the children became traumatized.
Principal Shamsul Haque's eldest son, Jubo Dal leader Moktadul Haque, was repeatedly sent to jail. Repeatedly elected Joypurhat Municipality Commissioner and Panel Mayor, District BNP Convener Golzar Hossain, former MP late Mozahar Ali Pradhan's son, District BNP Senior Joint Convener Masud Rana Pradhan, elder son, Municipal BNP Secretary Abu Raihan Ujjal Pradhan, younger son, District Chhatra Dal President Mamunur Rashid Pradhan, none of them could stay at home. All of them had to endure repeated torture in prison. Their homes were attacked.
On the night of April 11, 2013, the law enforcement agencies abducted Professor Nazrul Islam, the secretary of the Joypurhat district Jamaat, from his home. Despite many attempts, the family members could not find him. After 69 days, he was abandoned on a rural road in Ishwardi, Pabna district, one morning. Rashedul Alam Sabuj, the former vice chairman of Akkelpur Upazila Parishad and MP candidate for Joypurhat-2 constituency, was abducted, inhumanly tortured and left for dead.
The then Jamaat Amir of Panchbibi Upazila, Taslim Uddin, told Amar Desh, "The police took me away from my house in Puranapoil at midnight. I thought I would never be able to return. They took me away and abused me in foul language. I am a madrasa teacher. So the police told me, 'First become a Muslim, then do madrasa.' The police took me to Panchbibi Police Station. Later, when I saw that a case was being prepared against me, I could guess that maybe they would not kidnap me. Six cases were filed against me.
Principal Shamsul Haque's eldest son, Jubo Dal leader Moktadul Haque, was repeatedly sent to jail. Repeatedly elected Joypurhat Municipality Commissioner and Panel Mayor, District BNP Convener Golzar Hossain, former MP late Mozahar Ali Pradhan's son, District BNP Senior Joint Convener Masud Rana Pradhan, elder son, Municipal BNP Secretary Abu Raihan Ujjal Pradhan, younger son, District Chhatra Dal President Mamunur Rashid Pradhan, none of them could stay at home. All of them had to endure repeated torture in prison. Their homes were attacked.
On the night of April 11, 2013, the law enforcement agencies abducted Professor Nazrul Islam, the secretary of the Joypurhat district Jamaat, from his home. Despite many attempts, the family members could not find him. After 69 days, he was abandoned on a rural road in Ishwardi, Pabna district, one morning. Rashedul Alam Sabuj, the former vice chairman of Akkelpur Upazila Parishad and MP candidate for Joypurhat-2 constituency, was abducted, inhumanly tortured and left for dead.
The then Jamaat Amir of Panchbibi Upazila, Taslim Uddin, told Amar Desh, "The police took me away from my house in Puranapoil at midnight. I thought I would never be able to return. They took me away and abused me in foul language. I am a madrasa teacher. So the police told me, 'First become a Muslim, then do madrasa.' The police took me to Panchbibi Police Station. Later, when I saw that a case was being prepared against me, I could guess that maybe they would not kidnap me. Six cases were filed against me.
I was kept on remand for six days. There, I was subjected to extreme mental torture. Even when I was given food, they did not give me water. Even when I asked for water for ablution, I did not get it. The then OC of Panchbibi Police Station, Ashraful Islam, forced me to resign from Jamaat by holding a press conference. That case cost me four lakh taka."
On March 9, 2015, Rashedul Alam Sabuj, the vice chairman of Akkelpur Upazila Parishad and MP candidate for Joypurhat-2 constituency, was abducted, tortured and left for dead by Awami League terrorists. He told Amar Desh, "I was abducted from the Shuktahar intersection on the Joypurhat-Akkelpur road by leaders and activists of the Sramik League, Chhatra League and Jubo League. Later, after brutal beating and torture, they left me for dead. The police rescued me and took me to the hospital and arrested me in a dying condition. After undergoing treatment in Bogra, I was released on bail after serving six months in prison."
On the night of September 26, 2016, RAB members took away Shafinul Islam, son of Nazrul Islam of Dewanpara Mohalla under Joypurhat Municipality, from Uttara in Dhaka. He was a BNP supporter. Shafin's father Nazrul Islam told Amar Desh in a tearful voice, "After the kidnapping, my son was illegally detained in custody for a long month. Despite dharnas at all levels of the law enforcement agencies, I could not find my piece of liver. Finally, on the night of October 25, the law enforcement agencies staged a gunfight and killed my father by shooting him with 10 rounds of SMG and shotgun at the abandoned hut of Helal Sardar in Dadra Jantigram Mouza, Pakar Matha, Sadar Upazila. The then SP Molla Nazrul Islam committed many crimes against humanity including this murder. The case is ongoing. We want justice. We want to die after seeing his due trial."
Extortion was being practiced to implement the party's programs. Under various pretexts, individuals and businesses were being extorted by force. Awami League terrorists chopped off the left hand of Hatem Sheikh, son of Osman Sheikh, a salon worker from Teghar Sheikhpara in Sadar Upazila, after he failed to pay the extortion of 60,000 taka.
Hatem Sheikh told Amar Desh, "Six-seven Awami terrorists led by Palchan (later killed by miscreants) came to my house and asked where is your daughter? Your daughter is needed. I understood that they had come to pick up my daughter. We were terrified. Since the married girl was at her in-laws' house, we were saved on that journey. No one could stay at home for two months. Later, their people called us and demanded a ransom of 60,000 taka. I somehow managed my family with what I earned working in a salon. Where would I get so much money? There is no way to survive without paying a ransom. I borrowed 6,000 taka from a kind man in the area. A few days later, on the 2nd of Ashwin in 2014, 40-50 Awami terrorists openly came to my shop on several motorcycles, wearing Ramda and Samurai. They took me out of the shop and started beating me. As a result, my left hand was severed and some of my right fingernails were cut off."
Since then, he has been unable to work. The family can no longer survive on the disability allowance of 3,550 taka every three months. Now he begs and eats.
On February 24, 2015, Chhatra League leaders and activists kidnapped Maulana Firoz Ansari, MD of the local United Hajj Group, and demanded a ransom of one lakh taka. After physically torturing him, they called the police again. The police said, "Make him (beat him) and bring him to the police station." He said, later, the people of the house came to the Chhatra League office and begged him to pay 50,000 taka and freed him.
The police brutally maimed two Shibir leaders, Abu Zar Gifari, the then district president of the Chhatra Shibir, and Omar Ali Babu, the secretary. Their companion, Al-Amin, was seriously injured.
According to the case, on December 8, 2015, law enforcement officers arrested the Shibir president and secretary from a bus in Abdullahpur in the capital on their way to Dhaka. But the police denied the arrest. Nine days later, RAB-5 officially announced the arrest of the two Shibir leaders. RAB said that three people, including the top two Shibir leaders, were arrested from Shimultali Khaswaguri area of Panchbibi upazila in Joypurhat. Omar Ali Babu told Amar Desh, "After the arrest, they kept us in a small room like a mirror. We were subjected to inhuman torture in the name of interrogation. Later, instead of taking us to court, the police staged a gunfight in the name of allegedly recovering weapons. That night, they took us to a secluded place in Aola Union of Panchbibi upazila and shot all three of us in the right knee in cold blood. When our condition deteriorated severely on December 27, doctorsamputated our legs to save our lives. Now, we are living with permanent disabilities." In the same year, the eyes of Mizanur Rahman of Shibir were gouged out. Imran of Shibir was given electric shocks.
On November 5, 2012, the police opened fire on a Jamaat program at the local martyr Dr. Abul Kashem Maidan, killing Badiuzzaman Mandal of Panchbibi. On January 31, 2013, Abdullah Al Mamun of Joypurhat was killed, Jamaat sources said. On March 3, 2013, during a Jamaat protest march in Panchbibi against the death sentence of Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee, the police, led by the then Panchbibi Police Station OC Nur Mohammad, opened fire, killing six people - Majidul Islam, Majnu Mia, Nasir Uddin, Abdul Hakim, Farman Ali and Hisab Uddin. Thirty more were injured. On July 18 of the same year, Zahidul Islam was shot dead.
During the Awami League regime, more than 40 Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists were shot in Joypurhat. At that time, about 21,000 leaders and activists were accused in 82 cases of political harassment against Jamaat leaders and activists in Panchbibi Upazila.
28 political harassment and 'absenteeism' cases were filed against Upazila Amir Sujaul Karim alone, 14 against former Upazila Chairman and Jamaat leader Mostafizur Rahman, and 9 against former Upazila BNP president Abdul Gafur Mandal.
District Jamaat Assistant Secretary Advocate Mamunur Rashid told Amar Desh that around 25,000 leaders and activists were accused in a total of 230 cases against Jamaat in the district alone. Of these, the accused have been acquitted in 130 cases, while the remaining cases are still ongoing.
BNP sources said that more than 30,000 leaders and activists were accused in about 250 cases against the party's leaders and activists. District BNP convener Golzar Hossain told Amar Desh, "During the 15-year rule of fascist Hasina, there was no security for people's lives in the district. Political opponents were suppressed by using cases and police."
He said that the district was turned into a 'heaven of extortion' through attacks on the houses of BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists, occupation of businesses, looting and extortion. The then SP Molla Nazrul Islam used to carry out strict repression against the opposition camp and he used to boast about it in official meetings. During his time, a precedent of police brutality was set in the district.
According to the district BNP, more than 200 cases were filed against their leaders and activists, in which the number of accused was about 20,000. District PP Advocate Shahnur Rahman (Shahin) said that a total of 198 cases have been applied for withdrawal. The Home Ministry has already ordered the withdrawal of 69 cases. He mentioned that most of the cases are politically motivated and missing.
District Jamaat Ameer and former MP candidate for Joypurhat-1 constituency Dr. Fazlur Rahman Sayeed said, at that time it seemed as if we had returned to the era of ignorance. SP Molla Nazrul Islam used to oppress people not only on government orders, but also on his own personal arbitrariness. The police, led by the then OC Ashraful Islam, OC Sirajul Islam, SI Hasmat and SI Asad, were practically an 'army of oppression'. In Molla Nazrul's plan, the police worked as Awami cadres and destroyed everything in the opposition camp.He demanded a fair and strict trial in this incident.It is worth noting that in 1971, BNP founding member and former minister Abdul Alim was imprisoned for a long time on charges of crimes against humanity. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment. He died in a prison cell in Dhaka Jail on August 30, 2014. He lived in his home in Joypurhat despite knowing that he would be arrested after the case was filed. In his speech before his father's funeral, his eldest son Faisal Alim complained, "The tyrannical Hasina government did not allow my father to receive treatment. He was kept in jail without trial and killed."
On December 15, 2013, in the Haltree village of Puranapil union in Sadar, law enforcement forces opened fire on villagers in broad daylight, killing five Jamaat members - Abdur Rahman, Firoz Hossain, Asma Begum, Insan Ali and Shamim - in a protest against the illegal tribunal and the release of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah. Fifty more people were injured that day. Locals said that the police attacked the village in 18 vehicles at once.Rina Begum, the mother of the deceased Insan, told Amar Desh in tears, "Insan is my only son. I sent him to a madrasa. He was a prayerful and pious person since childhood. The police brutally shot and killed my father. To cover up the crime, the police and the AL have instead filed cases accusing many people in our area. I want justice for my son's murder. I have no other sons. The boys from Jamaat-Shibir often inquire about us. They come to our house before every Eid. Insan's father, Moslem Uddin, sighed and said, "I am old. I cannot do my work like before. I had high hopes that Insan would take care of the family. The police did not let my son live. I have sought justice from Allah."
Jamaat Ameer's wife a victim of police brutalityThe police would raid the homes of the camp residents. If they couldn't find the male members, the women would be abused in foul language.Sabina Khatun, wife of the then Amir Taslim Uddin of Panchbibi Upazila Jamaat, said, "In 2013, as soon as the Amir's wife was identified, six-seven male policemen led by SI Pradeep and SI Kamal forcibly dragged me out of the house. Then they subjected me to extensive physical torture. I became completely naked. Later, in front of many people, they dragged me by all fours and legs along the asphalt road to the main point of Puranapil Bazar, about 300 meters away. I was sick for a long time due to the torture of male police members. I am still carrying that physical injury. I cannot sleep well due to the pain. I did not get any justice for that inhuman torture. On the contrary, we were harassed by filing a case."
Awami League dominanceAt that time, the A.L. had sole dominance in the entire district. The master of the dance was the whip and central organizing secretary and MP for Joypurhat-2 (Kalai-Khetlal-Akkelpur) constituency, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan. Being the party's central organizing secretary and whip, he had sole dominance in the entire district.He formed a huge syndicate with former chairman of Dogachhi UP in Sadar, Zahurul Islam, president of Jindarpur Union AL in Kalai Upazila and former district council member Rafiqul Islam, former chairman of Khetlal Upazila Parishad Mostakim Mondal, convener of the district Jubo League Russell Dewan Milon, his PS Imrul Kabir Saikat, AL leader Golam Haqqani, former mayor Mostafizur Rahman and former chairman of Rukindipur UP in Akkelpur Upazila Ahsan Kabir. In both parliamentary constituencies of Joypurhat, his syndicate was in control of hat-bazars, sand palaces, road-bridge construction, river dredging, election of presidents of government and private educational institutions, recruitment of teachers and employees, and recruitment in the police. There are even allegations that the appropriate authorities could not appoint night watchmen in government primary schools or government representatives (DG representatives) in the teacher-employee recruitment boards in schools and colleges in the constituency without his message or DO letter. Whip Swapan controlled these syndicates from behind the scenes. Most local government representatives were elected at his behest.
On March 9, 2015, Rashedul Alam Sabuj, the vice chairman of Akkelpur Upazila Parishad and MP candidate for Joypurhat-2 constituency, was abducted, tortured and left for dead by Awami League terrorists. He told Amar Desh, "I was abducted from the Shuktahar intersection on the Joypurhat-Akkelpur road by leaders and activists of the Sramik League, Chhatra League and Jubo League. Later, after brutal beating and torture, they left me for dead. The police rescued me and took me to the hospital and arrested me in a dying condition. After undergoing treatment in Bogra, I was released on bail after serving six months in prison."
On the night of September 26, 2016, RAB members took away Shafinul Islam, son of Nazrul Islam of Dewanpara Mohalla under Joypurhat Municipality, from Uttara in Dhaka. He was a BNP supporter. Shafin's father Nazrul Islam told Amar Desh in a tearful voice, "After the kidnapping, my son was illegally detained in custody for a long month. Despite dharnas at all levels of the law enforcement agencies, I could not find my piece of liver. Finally, on the night of October 25, the law enforcement agencies staged a gunfight and killed my father by shooting him with 10 rounds of SMG and shotgun at the abandoned hut of Helal Sardar in Dadra Jantigram Mouza, Pakar Matha, Sadar Upazila. The then SP Molla Nazrul Islam committed many crimes against humanity including this murder. The case is ongoing. We want justice. We want to die after seeing his due trial."
Extortion was being practiced to implement the party's programs. Under various pretexts, individuals and businesses were being extorted by force. Awami League terrorists chopped off the left hand of Hatem Sheikh, son of Osman Sheikh, a salon worker from Teghar Sheikhpara in Sadar Upazila, after he failed to pay the extortion of 60,000 taka.
Hatem Sheikh told Amar Desh, "Six-seven Awami terrorists led by Palchan (later killed by miscreants) came to my house and asked where is your daughter? Your daughter is needed. I understood that they had come to pick up my daughter. We were terrified. Since the married girl was at her in-laws' house, we were saved on that journey. No one could stay at home for two months. Later, their people called us and demanded a ransom of 60,000 taka. I somehow managed my family with what I earned working in a salon. Where would I get so much money? There is no way to survive without paying a ransom. I borrowed 6,000 taka from a kind man in the area. A few days later, on the 2nd of Ashwin in 2014, 40-50 Awami terrorists openly came to my shop on several motorcycles, wearing Ramda and Samurai. They took me out of the shop and started beating me. As a result, my left hand was severed and some of my right fingernails were cut off."
Since then, he has been unable to work. The family can no longer survive on the disability allowance of 3,550 taka every three months. Now he begs and eats.
On February 24, 2015, Chhatra League leaders and activists kidnapped Maulana Firoz Ansari, MD of the local United Hajj Group, and demanded a ransom of one lakh taka. After physically torturing him, they called the police again. The police said, "Make him (beat him) and bring him to the police station." He said, later, the people of the house came to the Chhatra League office and begged him to pay 50,000 taka and freed him.
The police brutally maimed two Shibir leaders, Abu Zar Gifari, the then district president of the Chhatra Shibir, and Omar Ali Babu, the secretary. Their companion, Al-Amin, was seriously injured.
According to the case, on December 8, 2015, law enforcement officers arrested the Shibir president and secretary from a bus in Abdullahpur in the capital on their way to Dhaka. But the police denied the arrest. Nine days later, RAB-5 officially announced the arrest of the two Shibir leaders. RAB said that three people, including the top two Shibir leaders, were arrested from Shimultali Khaswaguri area of Panchbibi upazila in Joypurhat. Omar Ali Babu told Amar Desh, "After the arrest, they kept us in a small room like a mirror. We were subjected to inhuman torture in the name of interrogation. Later, instead of taking us to court, the police staged a gunfight in the name of allegedly recovering weapons. That night, they took us to a secluded place in Aola Union of Panchbibi upazila and shot all three of us in the right knee in cold blood. When our condition deteriorated severely on December 27, doctorsamputated our legs to save our lives. Now, we are living with permanent disabilities." In the same year, the eyes of Mizanur Rahman of Shibir were gouged out. Imran of Shibir was given electric shocks.
On November 5, 2012, the police opened fire on a Jamaat program at the local martyr Dr. Abul Kashem Maidan, killing Badiuzzaman Mandal of Panchbibi. On January 31, 2013, Abdullah Al Mamun of Joypurhat was killed, Jamaat sources said. On March 3, 2013, during a Jamaat protest march in Panchbibi against the death sentence of Allama Delwar Hossain Sayedee, the police, led by the then Panchbibi Police Station OC Nur Mohammad, opened fire, killing six people - Majidul Islam, Majnu Mia, Nasir Uddin, Abdul Hakim, Farman Ali and Hisab Uddin. Thirty more were injured. On July 18 of the same year, Zahidul Islam was shot dead.
During the Awami League regime, more than 40 Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists were shot in Joypurhat. At that time, about 21,000 leaders and activists were accused in 82 cases of political harassment against Jamaat leaders and activists in Panchbibi Upazila.
28 political harassment and 'absenteeism' cases were filed against Upazila Amir Sujaul Karim alone, 14 against former Upazila Chairman and Jamaat leader Mostafizur Rahman, and 9 against former Upazila BNP president Abdul Gafur Mandal.
District Jamaat Assistant Secretary Advocate Mamunur Rashid told Amar Desh that around 25,000 leaders and activists were accused in a total of 230 cases against Jamaat in the district alone. Of these, the accused have been acquitted in 130 cases, while the remaining cases are still ongoing.
BNP sources said that more than 30,000 leaders and activists were accused in about 250 cases against the party's leaders and activists. District BNP convener Golzar Hossain told Amar Desh, "During the 15-year rule of fascist Hasina, there was no security for people's lives in the district. Political opponents were suppressed by using cases and police."
He said that the district was turned into a 'heaven of extortion' through attacks on the houses of BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists, occupation of businesses, looting and extortion. The then SP Molla Nazrul Islam used to carry out strict repression against the opposition camp and he used to boast about it in official meetings. During his time, a precedent of police brutality was set in the district.
According to the district BNP, more than 200 cases were filed against their leaders and activists, in which the number of accused was about 20,000. District PP Advocate Shahnur Rahman (Shahin) said that a total of 198 cases have been applied for withdrawal. The Home Ministry has already ordered the withdrawal of 69 cases. He mentioned that most of the cases are politically motivated and missing.
District Jamaat Ameer and former MP candidate for Joypurhat-1 constituency Dr. Fazlur Rahman Sayeed said, at that time it seemed as if we had returned to the era of ignorance. SP Molla Nazrul Islam used to oppress people not only on government orders, but also on his own personal arbitrariness. The police, led by the then OC Ashraful Islam, OC Sirajul Islam, SI Hasmat and SI Asad, were practically an 'army of oppression'. In Molla Nazrul's plan, the police worked as Awami cadres and destroyed everything in the opposition camp.He demanded a fair and strict trial in this incident.It is worth noting that in 1971, BNP founding member and former minister Abdul Alim was imprisoned for a long time on charges of crimes against humanity. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment. He died in a prison cell in Dhaka Jail on August 30, 2014. He lived in his home in Joypurhat despite knowing that he would be arrested after the case was filed. In his speech before his father's funeral, his eldest son Faisal Alim complained, "The tyrannical Hasina government did not allow my father to receive treatment. He was kept in jail without trial and killed."
On December 15, 2013, in the Haltree village of Puranapil union in Sadar, law enforcement forces opened fire on villagers in broad daylight, killing five Jamaat members - Abdur Rahman, Firoz Hossain, Asma Begum, Insan Ali and Shamim - in a protest against the illegal tribunal and the release of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah. Fifty more people were injured that day. Locals said that the police attacked the village in 18 vehicles at once.Rina Begum, the mother of the deceased Insan, told Amar Desh in tears, "Insan is my only son. I sent him to a madrasa. He was a prayerful and pious person since childhood. The police brutally shot and killed my father. To cover up the crime, the police and the AL have instead filed cases accusing many people in our area. I want justice for my son's murder. I have no other sons. The boys from Jamaat-Shibir often inquire about us. They come to our house before every Eid. Insan's father, Moslem Uddin, sighed and said, "I am old. I cannot do my work like before. I had high hopes that Insan would take care of the family. The police did not let my son live. I have sought justice from Allah."
Jamaat Ameer's wife a victim of police brutalityThe police would raid the homes of the camp residents. If they couldn't find the male members, the women would be abused in foul language.Sabina Khatun, wife of the then Amir Taslim Uddin of Panchbibi Upazila Jamaat, said, "In 2013, as soon as the Amir's wife was identified, six-seven male policemen led by SI Pradeep and SI Kamal forcibly dragged me out of the house. Then they subjected me to extensive physical torture. I became completely naked. Later, in front of many people, they dragged me by all fours and legs along the asphalt road to the main point of Puranapil Bazar, about 300 meters away. I was sick for a long time due to the torture of male police members. I am still carrying that physical injury. I cannot sleep well due to the pain. I did not get any justice for that inhuman torture. On the contrary, we were harassed by filing a case."
Awami League dominanceAt that time, the A.L. had sole dominance in the entire district. The master of the dance was the whip and central organizing secretary and MP for Joypurhat-2 (Kalai-Khetlal-Akkelpur) constituency, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan. Being the party's central organizing secretary and whip, he had sole dominance in the entire district.He formed a huge syndicate with former chairman of Dogachhi UP in Sadar, Zahurul Islam, president of Jindarpur Union AL in Kalai Upazila and former district council member Rafiqul Islam, former chairman of Khetlal Upazila Parishad Mostakim Mondal, convener of the district Jubo League Russell Dewan Milon, his PS Imrul Kabir Saikat, AL leader Golam Haqqani, former mayor Mostafizur Rahman and former chairman of Rukindipur UP in Akkelpur Upazila Ahsan Kabir. In both parliamentary constituencies of Joypurhat, his syndicate was in control of hat-bazars, sand palaces, road-bridge construction, river dredging, election of presidents of government and private educational institutions, recruitment of teachers and employees, and recruitment in the police. There are even allegations that the appropriate authorities could not appoint night watchmen in government primary schools or government representatives (DG representatives) in the teacher-employee recruitment boards in schools and colleges in the constituency without his message or DO letter. Whip Swapan controlled these syndicates from behind the scenes. Most local government representatives were elected at his behest.
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