Sirajganj journo killing
Mayors brother too opened fire
Habibullah Mizan
Not only did the arrested Shahjadpur municipality mayor, Halimul Haque Miru, fire during the fierce clash on Thursday, which left journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul dead, his brother Habibul Haque Mintu, suspended general secretary of the Pabna district unit of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), was also seen firing from a shotgun. The mayor is the organising secretary of the Sirajganj unit of the Awami League (AL).
Exclusive video footage obtained by The Independent shows that police tried to resist, standing in the middle, when supporters of both Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Bijoy Mahmud and mayor Haque and their respective supporters were battling each other.
At one stage, Mahmuds supporters retreated, thanks to resistance by the police. But despite such police resistance, supporters of the mayor, who were carrying sticks, were seen trying to attack Mahmuds supporters again.
At that juncture, Mintu, who was at the back of the attackers, moved against the rival group of his brother, the mayor. He was wearing a full-sleeve shirt, white in colour, and navy-blue jeans. Police and local sources confirmed that the man in white shirt and navy-blue jeans was indeed Mintu.
He was seen firing several rounds from a shotgun. In the audio of the footage, heavy sounds of firing could also be heard. As Mintu fired indiscriminately, the mayor himself was seen calling out very loudly to his younger brother. In the video, the mayor said, Mintu, hallo Mintu, Mintu
Immediately after this scene, some people were seen taking care of injured journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul. A few seconds later, Mintu was seen hiding the shotgun inside his white shirt. He pressed his left hand on the gun from outside his shirt. He arrived in front of the mayors residence. After a few seconds, some supporters of the mayor again tried to attack against Mahmuds supporters. At that point, the mayor was seen carrying another shotgun in his left hand. He also moved forward against his rival group.
Immediately after the incident, police arrested the mayors two brothersexpelled Pabna district JSD general secretary Habibul Haque Mintu and BCL leader Hasibul Haque Pintu. The police also seized the mayors licensed shotgun and some bullets from his residence. But the police are yet to seize Mintus shotgun, which was also used in the deadly clash. After taking into consideration the circumstances of the case and the entire situation, family members of the slain journalist alleged that the police were trying to divert the case.
They pointed out that though the mayors brother Mintu used his illegal shotgun, the police are still silent over the issue of the firearms.
Inspector Monirul Islam, investigating officer into the journalist murder case, said, We have collected several pieces of video footage of the clashes, which were probably captured by local eyewitnesses. We are trying to confirm the kind of guns used in the clash.
Replying to a question, Monirul Islam said, We are conducting drives to recover all arms, but till now, we have not been able to seize any arms except those of the mayor. After the incident, mayor himself admitted that he fired a round of bullets from his house. On analysing the new footage of the gunbattle, his brother Mintu was seen firing from another shotgun. The journalist was shot in the head while covering a clash between two AL factions on Friday. One of the factions comprised the supporters of ousted Shahjadpur municipality president Abdur Rahim, while the other group included AL activists owing allegiance to mayor Haque.
The JSD, an ally of the ruling AL, dissolved its Pabna district committee as part of the partys organisational action against Mintu, said JSD faction general secretary Shirin Akhter. Meanwhile, the police have made another arrest in connection with Shimuls murder.
Shahin Alam, 28, driver of mayor Halimul Haque Miru, was arrested from the municipality area on Monday evening. Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Shahjadpur police station, confirmed it, adding that nine arrests have been made in connection with the murder till now. Haques driver Shahin is an accused in connection with the journalists murder, he disclosed.
