Complainant in Keraniganj extortion case arrested; wife alleges he was framed in a false case
Tajul Islam (51) had filed a case against nine BNP leaders, activists and supporters in Keraniganj, Dhaka, accusing them of land grabbing and demanding Tk 20 lakh in extortion. Now police have arrested him in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He was arrested on Thursday night (5 November) from the Sharif Park area of the upazila.
His wife Rubina Islam, however, has alleged that he was framed in a false case in revenge for filing the case against the BNP men. She alleged that pressure had been building on their family ever since the case was filed against the BNP leaders and activists. After one accused in that case was arrested, influential people had her husband framed in a false case through the police in retaliation, she said.
Rubina Islam said, 'So that we withdraw the case against them, my husband has been unjustly arrested by using the police.'
Tajul's son Rafial also expressed concern over his father's arrest. He told journalists that after his father's imprisonment, the family members are living in insecurity.
Keraniganj Model police station officer-in-charge Ruhul Kuddus said Tajul Islam was arrested in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He was a supporter and financier of the banned Awami League, though he was not an active or office-bearing leader of the party. The OC also described him as a 'bad man'.
According to the case documents, Tajul Islam, a resident of Taranagar, filed the case in court accusing them of land grabbing and demanding Tk 20 lakh in extortion. Nine BNP leaders, activists and supporters, including Awal Shikder, joint convener of Kalatia Union BNP and UP chairman, were made accused. The main accused, Awal Shikder, and the other eight accused are still absconding.
Earlier, on 2 November, the Special Response Battalion-10 (SRB-10) arrested Jahangir (37), a warrant-listed accused in the case filed by Tajul, from the Kharakandi Bazar area. He is the joint convener of the Keraniganj Model Upazila Swechchhasebak Dal.
Counter-allegations from both sides over the same incident have created tension in the area. Police say Tajul Islam was arrested in the Anti-Terrorism Act case, while his family claims he was framed for filing a case against BNP leaders.
