Selim Pradhan, chairman of Japan-Bangladesh Group, now on bail following his arrest as an online casino kingpin, urged the government to take actions against alleged land grabbers, extortionists, and drug peddlers in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj.
Speaking at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club on Monday, he underscored that if the government and administration wanted, criminal activities in Rupganj could be eradicated.
He recounted an alleged attack on his residence on Friday by supporters of newly elected upazila chairman Habibur Rahman Habib, involving gunfire and crude bombs.
After being unable to file a case with Rupganj police station for three days despite Russian embassy鈥檚 request, Selim expressed frustration, stating, 鈥業f I cannot file a case against the perpetrators, how can ordinary people expect justice?鈥�
However, Narayanganj district superintendent of police Golam Mostofa Rashel clarified that while they were prepared to take case, the individuals, named by Selim in the FIR, were not present during the attack.
鈥榃e urge him to make necessary corrections in the FIR. The newly elected upazila chairman is not my relative, so why would I refrain from taking any action? If Selim wants to include their names in the FIR, he must provide evidence,鈥� the SP added.
According to the law, anyone who knows about the commission of a cognisable offence can file an FIR. 鈥榃hen any information of any cognisable offence is presented before the police station, whether written or orally, the duty officer will write down the information and read it to the informant, after that the informant will sign that written document,鈥� read the section 154 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
Meanwhile, Selim alleged that Habib, popularly known as Balu Habib, was involvement in drug peddling, extortion, and land grabbing.
However, attempts to reach Habib for comment were unsuccessful.
Selim Pradhan was arrested on September 30, 2021 and released on bail on October 2, 2023.
On May 2, the Appellate Division instructed the election commission to maintain the status quo on the allocation of a symbol to Selim, who was allowed by the High Court to contest in May 21 Rupganj upazila parishad election as chairman candidate.
Ana Prasvetova, wife of Selim Pradhan, also addressed the press conference.
