Zahirul Haque Shamchu Dhali, who died on 29 March this year, is listed as the 219th accused in the case, raising questions over the process of identifying and verifying the accused.
Late freedom fighter Zahirul Haque Shamchu Dhali. Photo: Courtesy
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Late freedom fighter Zahirul Haque Shamchu Dhali. Photo: Courtesy
A late freedom fighter and local political leader from Shibchar in Madaripur has been named as an accused in a case over a road blockade, vandalism and crude bomb explosions at the Padma Bridge south toll plaza, seven and a half months after his death.
Zahirul Haque Shamchu Dhali, who died on 29 March this year, is listed as the 219th accused in the case, raising questions over the process of identifying and verifying the accused.
A resident of Dhalikandi in Kutubpur union of Shibchar upazila, Shamchu Dhali was the acting president of the union unit of the activity-banned Awami League.
At around 1:30am on 10 November, leaders and activists of the Awami League, whose activities are banned, and its affiliated organisations blocked the road in front of the Padma Bridge south toll plaza in Shariatpur’s Jajira upazila.
During the blockade, several vehicles were vandalised and multiple crude bombs were exploded, suspending toll collection for around an hour and leaving vehicles stranded at both ends of the bridge.
On 12 November, Sub-Inspector Akram Hossain of Padma Bridge South Police Station filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, naming 251 people and accusing another 600 to 700 unidentified individuals.
Shamchu Dhali’s family expressed shock and anger over his inclusion in the case.
“My father died on 29 March. It is astonishing that he has been made an accused even after his death. I cannot find the words to express how I feel. We have no objection to bringing the actual offenders to justice. But our question is, how can a dead person be named as an accused?” his son Nazmul Haque Dhali said.
He urged the government to properly investigate the matter and take necessary steps to withdraw the false case.
Asked about the matter, SI Akram Hossain, the complainant in the case, said, “I am only the complainant in name. The names of the accused were given to me. Should I lose my job by refusing to sign?”
Padma Bridge South Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdus Salam said one or two names might have been included by mistake given the large number of accused.
“If the investigation finds no evidence against anyone or establishes that their name was included by mistake, there is scope to drop them from the case. The matter will be investigated and necessary action will be taken,” he said.
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