Lalmonirhat Correspondent: A complaint has been filed against Zahid Hasan, the son of a local chief and vice-president of the Awami League, for assaulting, looting, stealing and molesting the residence of Lalmonirhat District Women’s Party Vice-President Shelly Begum (51) over a land dispute. The victim leader and her party workers held a press conference and later a human chain demanding a fair trial and immediate arrest of the culprits.
On Saturday (August 1) afternoon, Shelly Begum, a resident of Khurdasaptana (Alokrupa More) area of Ward No. 2 of Lalmonirhat Municipality and vice-president of the District Women’s Party, gave a detailed account of the attack in a written statement before the journalists present.
In a written statement at the press conference, Shelly Begum said that she had been in a long-standing dispute with a group of influential people, including Zahid Hasan Qureshi, the son of Rajarkar and the vice-president of Ward No. 2 of the Lalmonirhat Municipality Awami League, and his brothers Iqbal Qureshi and Javed Qureshi, over the land her husband had inherited from his father. Despite the fact that the case regarding the ownership of the land is currently pending in court (Other No. 19/22), the defendants had been making various attempts to forcibly occupy it.
In her account of the incident, she alleged that on July 27, at around 3 pm, the defendants, armed with bamboo sticks, iron rods, knives and other indigenous weapons, entered her house illegally. When Shelly Begum tried to beat her husband, the defendants beat her severely.
He further said that at one stage of the attack, the attackers broke the steel trunk of the tinned room of the house and stole 1 lakh 15 thousand taka in cash kept for house construction.
In addition, he was stripped naked and molested and tried to strangle him to death. At that time, the attackers snatched the 8 annas gold chain (currently estimated to be worth 1 lakh 25 thousand taka) from his neck. He was even hit in the eye with an iron rod, causing bloody injuries.
When the people and passersby heard the screams, the defendants threatened to kill him. Later, when the national emergency service 999 was called, the Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station arrived at the scene. Sensing the presence of the police, the defendants cut themselves. Later, with the help of locals, he was admitted to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital in a life-threatening condition (Admission Reg. No.: 630/4160). A written complaint has been filed against 8 people at Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station in this incident.
Shelly Begum also said at the press conference that the main accused Zahid’s brother Iqbal Qureshi is a notorious drug dealer behind the scenes of selling meat and there are multiple drug cases against him. In addition, the defendants are involved in environmental pollution and cattle smuggling by slaughtering cows everywhere, ignoring government policies.
Meanwhile, after the press conference, the party workers and supporters took to the streets in support of the victim’s District Women’s Party leader Shelly Begum and demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers.
The speakers at the human chain said that such a brutal attack and molestation on a female leader is unacceptable in any way. They warned of a strict movement if the accused are not arrested immediately.
Women’s Party members Hali Begum, Roksana Begum, Fatema Begum, and other party leaders and workers were present at the press conference and human chain.
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