Prove Boga was in my car, I’ll quit politics: Ctg mayor Shahadat

Highlights:

• Mayor challenges accusers to produce CCTV evidence
• Shahadat denies sheltering wanted criminal Boga
• Mayor accuses Khulshi OC of misconduct
• Boga faces 23 cases, says police
• Shahadat alleges conspiracy ahead of election

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain has denied allegations that he obstructed police from arresting listed criminal Waqil Hossain, alias Bihari Boga, at the city corporation building and helped him escape in his car.

The mayor today (7 October) challenged his accusers to produce evidence that Boga got into his vehicle and left the building with him.

“If any journalist can prove that Waqil got into my car and left the city corporation, I will quit politics,” Shahadat told reporters during a cleanliness and mosquito-control drive in the Eidgah Rupsah Bakery area of Ward 25.

Police went to the city corporation building last night to arrest Boga, who was reportedly there at the time.

Mayor denies sheltering Boga

Shahadat also rejected claims that he allowed Boga to take shelter inside the city corporation building.

“No one took shelter. Waqil himself did not come to me. His two brothers came to me with a complaint. Even if Waqil came downstairs and stayed there, that is the police’s responsibility. If a wanted accused is outside the city corporation, it is the police’s responsibility to arrest him. It is not my responsibility,” he said.

He said the city corporation remained open to people from all political backgrounds and that his office regularly received complaints and requests from people with different views.

“The city corporation is open to everyone. People from different parties and with different views come here with various problems. I am not the mayor of any particular party or group. I am the mayor of all the people of Chattogram,” he said.

Shahadat demands CCTV evidence

The mayor said CCTV cameras cover the areas where he enters and leaves his vehicle and challenged those accusing him to produce footage showing Boga getting into his car.

“There are CCTV cameras where I get out of and get into my car. There is CCTV footage throughout the city corporation. I did not get into my car secretly; I got in in front of everyone. Those who are saying Waqil got into my car have to show the footage and prove it,” he said.

“If they cannot prove it, a case will be filed against them,” he added.

Mayor accuses Khulshi OC of targeting him

Shahadat also accused Khulshi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdur Rahim of misconduct and questioned his current posting.

“He served as the officer-in-charge of Bakalia Police Station during the Awami League government. So, my question is, how can someone who served as the OC of an important police station during that period now be the OC of Khulshi Police Station?” he said.

The mayor also claimed that no Awami League, Chhatra League or Jubo League leader had been arrested since Rahim took charge of Khulshi Police Station.

Police did not immediately respond to the allegations.

Mayor cites complaint brought by Boga’s brothers

Shahadat said Boga’s two brothers had approached him over the recent murder of a man named Hridoy.

“A boy named Hridoy was murdered a few days ago. In that case, police arrested Kamrul and beat him to make him name Waqil. Waqil’s two brothers came to me with this allegation. Their allegation is that Kamrul was forced to name Waqil and his brother, and a case was filed against them,” he said.

He further claimed that Purshad, a witness in the case, had made a similar statement.

“The complainant also said they never said Kamrul was an associate of Waqil. They only said he was involved in Kamrul’s murder,” he said.

Mayor says rivals working ahead of election

Shahadat said he believed the allegations were part of an effort to discredit him ahead of the upcoming election.

“I have an election ahead of me. I believe OC Abdur Rahim is deliberately doing these things in collusion with those conspiring to discredit me ahead of the election,” he said.

Who is ‘Bihari Boga’?

Waqil Hossain, known as Bihari Boga, is listed by police as a criminal in Chattogram’s Khulshi area.

According to police, he faces 23 cases with Khulshi Police Station involving allegations related to arms, explosives and extortion.

Police recently went to arrest him over an alleged assault on a college teacher. His associates allegedly attacked the officers during the operation, injuring six police personnel, including the officer-in-charge, according to police.

Boga was expelled from the post of joint convener of the city unit of Swechchhasebak Dal on 8 June over alleged involvement in criminal activities. He is considered a follower of a senior BNP leader in the city.