Sirajganj
Killing of student sparks protest
A human chain was formed at Chowrasta intersection in Sirajganj town yesterday demanding arrest and exemplary punishment of the killers of college student Pankaj Kumar Sarker.
Several hundreds of people from all walks of life, including the victims family members under the banner of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote, Sirajganj district unit, took part in the human chain programme. Earlier, the demonstrators brought out a procession that paraded the main streets in the town and held a rally in front the Sirajganj Press Club. The rally was presided over by Gowranga Biswas, Vice President of the organizations central committee. Speakers at the rally demanded removal of Rashedul Islam Biswas, Officer in Charge (OC) of Rayganj police station due to his mysterious role in the case. They alleged that the accused persons are roaming in the area openly in presence of the police. The demonstrators also threatened to go for tougher agitations, including fast unto death soon, unless the killers are arrested and the OC is removed. They further complained that the OC is alleged trying to manipulated the case. Pankaj Kumar Sarker, 18, of Khokshahata village in Rayganj upazila of the district and also 2nd year student of Chandaikona Hazi Wahed Marium Degree College, was called out from his house over a cell phone by a gang of abductors on May 16. But, he has since been missing.
The abductors over the cell phone demanded Tk 10 lakh as ransom from his relatives and warned the family members not to inform the matter to police. As his family members failed to pay the demanded money, the abductors killed him brutally.
On May 19, police recovered the body of Pankaj from the septic tank at one Dulal Sheikhs house in the same village. Pankaj father Samiron Sarker lodged a case on the same night.
