In Gurudaspur, 'Chata Group' in Focus in Shakil Murder; MP's Son Mintu Accused of Using It
In the murder of Chhatra Dal leader Shakil Islam (32) in Gurudaspur, Natore, attention has turned to a local youth group known in the area as the 'Chata Group'. Those connected with the investigation say local MP Abdul Aziz's son Nuruzzaman Mintu used this group to carry out the plan to punish Shakil, and that the money behind it was supplied by US expatriate businessman Russell Hossain. Russell has denied the allegation.
Not only in the Shakil murder — the group's name is also surfacing around Gurudaspur's politics, the drug trade and local circles of power.
Russell Hossain, from Kochugari village of Dharabarisha union in Gurudaspur upazila, now runs a business in Oklahoma in the United States. He has a shopping mall at Chanchkoir bazar in Gurudaspur, where his lifestyle showroom 'Russ Urban Style' is located. Russell's followers were mocked locally as 'chata'; at first a young man named Rokon was called 'Russell's chata', and over time the number of youths close to him grew.
Russell Hossain claims he stands beside local youths in their troubles, moves around with them when he comes home and spends money on them. The youths who move with him are called members of the Chata Group, but it is not any force or terrorist group, he claims.
According to Natore Additional Superintendent of Police Iftekhaer Alam, Russell gives money to various political leaders. During the Awami League government he gave money to the then MP Abdul Kuddus, and he still gives money to those with whom he needs to maintain relations.
Locals said that after the political changeover of 5 August 2024, BNP men surrounded Russell's house, and the MP's son Mintu restrained them. From then on Russell grew close to Mintu, and at one stage Mintu also became close to the Chata Group members.
Russell claims, however, that his relationship with Mintu was not normal; he had to maintain it to protect his house, car and businesses back home. Mintu, he claims, took extortion money from him several times through cheques. Russell further claims MP Abdul Aziz also took money from him during the parliamentary election; by his account, 30 to 35 lakh taka was spent behind Abdul Aziz in the election. MP Abdul Aziz did not answer repeated phone calls for comment on these matters, and Mintu's comment could not be obtained as he is in jail.
A district police official connected with the Shakil murder investigation claims Mintu controlled a drug-trade syndicate in the area and had become angry with Shakil over a drug-related matter. According to the official, Mintu planned to punish Shakil, the task of implementing it was given to the youth group, and the necessary money was supplied by the group's patron. After Shakil's burial, angry people attacked Russell Hossain's Russ Urban Style showroom. Russell has directly denied the group's involvement in Shakil's murder, saying he knew Shakil from childhood, has lived abroad for 17 years, had no enmity with Shakil, and that they are being implicated in the murder to divert attention from the MP and his son.
Additional Superintendent of Police Iftekhaer Alam said, 'In the interest of the investigation, not everything can be disclosed right now. But we are not harassing anyone needlessly either. The police are proceeding with meticulous analysis. Only those whose involvement is found are being brought under the law.'
Shakil's father Rabiul Karim claims that before his death Shakil said two youths named Irfan Newaz and Md Habib had attacked him; their homes are in Gurudaspur and they are known locally as members of the Chata Group. They have been in hiding since Shakil's death.
Meanwhile, on Thursday night the Detective Branch (DB) of Natore district police took two more youths, Anisur Rahman and Al-Amin, into custody for questioning in the investigation; they too are locally known as members of the group. On Saturday they were shown arrested and sent to jail through court. DB Inspector Nazrul Islam confirmed they are Chata Group members and said a remand application would be made in court. He said Shakil's father had already made public the names of two suspects of the group, which has created some complication in the investigation, and they cannot be reached despite attempts to arrest them.
The three-day remand of Nuruzzaman Mintu, arrested in the Shakil murder case, ended on Friday. Considering further interrogation necessary on the basis of information obtained, he was produced in court on Friday afternoon with an application for seven more days of remand; the application had not been heard as of Saturday. DB Inspector Nazrul Islam said, 'The date for the remand hearing has not been fixed yet. If Mintu is remanded again, there is a possibility of getting information about others involved in the murder.'
Shakil Islam, member secretary of Gurudaspur municipal Chhatra Dal, was attacked on the night of 14 October and died on the night of 26 October while under treatment in Dhaka. That day Chhatra Dal besieged MP Abdul Aziz of Natore-4 (Gurudaspur-Baraigram), and Mintu later surrendered at the police station on his father's advice. The slain Shakil's family has told State Minister for Social Welfare Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul that they are now in a security crisis; the state minister said that if there is no justice for Shakil's murder, students of the young generation will not be encouraged to join politics.
