A case has been filed against 30 leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for allegedly assaulting an Awami League activist in Baraigram upazila of Natore.
The victim Uzzal Kumar Mondal, 25, was reportedly beaten in broad daylight in the Kalikapur Swasnghat area under Banpara municipality. His father-in-law Krisnachandra Mondal lodged the case with Boraigram police station Sunday night, naming 15 individuals and accusing 15 unidentified BNP leaders and activists.
The named accused include Banpara municipal BNP joint convener ABM Iqbal Hossain Raju, municipal BNP ward no 3 president Shahabul Alam, ward no 8 general secretary Dulal Kabiraj, upazila Sramik Dal convener Munnaf Khan, municipal Sramik Dal convener Jalal Bhuiyan, municipal Swechchhasebak Dal joint convener Noor Alam, municipal Jubo Dal senior vice-president Jahangir Alam, and municipal Chhatra Dal joint convener Sujan Khan.
Boraigram police station officer-in-charge Sirajul Islam confirmed the arrest of the prime accused Jalal Bhuiyan Monday morning and stated that efforts to apprehend the other suspects were ongoing.
According to reports, the attack occurred on Wednesday when Uzzal returned home after four months in hiding, following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina amid the August 5 student-led mass uprising.
Uzzal was returning to take his pregnant wife to the doctor when BNP activists allegedly attacked him in front of his family members. His parents and pregnant wife were also physically assaulted when they tried to intervene.
After the assault, the BNP men reportedly handed Uzzal over to Boraigram police, who arrested him under Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and sent him to jail.
The incident drew widespread criticism when a video of the assault went viral on social media on Friday.
In response, BNP senior joint secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi visited Uzzal in the hospital and met with his family. He called on Boraigram police to take immediate legal action against those involved in the attack.
