Leaders and activists of the Rajshahi Truck Owners’ Association and the Rajshahi Fertiliser Association on Sunday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of their president Abul Kalam.
They made the demand at a press conference jointly organised by the Rajshahi Truck Owners’ Association, Rajshahi Truck Workers’ Union, Rajshahi Fertiliser Association and Rajshahi district unit of the BADC Dealers’ Association at a restaurant in Rajshahi city.
Mahfuzul Hasnain, president of the BADC Dealers’ Association, alleged that Mehedi Masud, the former officer-in-charge of Boalia model police station, deliberately included the names of 74 individuals, including Abul Kalam, in a case filed on the charge of attacking a student-led procession on August 5.
‘In an affidavit, the plaintiff has recently announced that he has no allegations against Abul Kalam and six others, out of the 74 newly included accused in the case,’ said Mahfuzul Hasnain, adding, ‘We have submitted the affidavit to the Boalia police and the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police commissioner.’
Yet, the arrest of Abul Kalam in the case was unexpected, he mentioned.
Mahfuzul alleged that the arrest of their association’s president was part of a larger conspiracy to create instability in the truck transport and agricultural sectors of the Rajshahi region.
He urged the concerned authorities to release Abul Kalam without delay and to remove his name from the case.
Among others, Rajshahi Fertiliser Association general secretary Robiul Islam, Rajshahi BADC Dealers’ Association GS Sharif Uddin Munshi, Rajshahi Truck Owners’ Association vice-president Md Tojammel and GS Zillur Rahman were present at the press conference.
On Saturday, Boalia model police arrested Abul Kalam in a case filed by a student against 127 named and 500 to 600 unnamed people on charges of attacking a student-led procession on August 5.
While Abul Kalam was being taken to court on Saturday, two factions of leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party scuffled inside the police station.
One faction labelled him as an ally of fascism and wanted him sent to prison, while the other faction sought to secure his release. This led to a chaotic scene at the police station, which was captured in a video that later spread across social media.