Gunfire During July-August Protests:

126 Armed Individuals Identified, Most Still at Large

Rtv News

13 Oct 2024, 17:41

Photo: Collected

The months of July and August witnessed one of the most turbulent periods in the nation's history as people mobilized en masse. What began as a student-led protest demanding reform in the government job quota system soon escalated into an uprising, ultimately toppling the Awami League government. However, before its fall, law enforcement agencies made concerted efforts to suppress the movement. Additionally, ruling party affiliates and hired thugs were seen using firearms at various stages of the protests.

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Protesters were targeted with gunfire by armed men, including ruling party grassroots leaders, across at least 12 districts, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Feni, Narayanganj, Faridpur, Rangpur, Jamalpur, Habiganj, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, Sylhet, and Lakshmipur.

Following the government’s collapse, law enforcement identified 126 armed individuals in these 12 districts through video footage analysis, though most remain out of reach. As of now, only a handful have been arrested: 3 of the 10 identified in Chattogram, 1 of the 33 in Feni, 1 of the 4 in Keraniganj, and 1 of the 2 in Sirajganj. Of the six arrested, four were taken into custody by the police, while the remaining two were detained by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

According to RAB’s media director, Lt. Col. Munim Ferdous, 15 individuals directly involved in armed attacks during the protests have been arrested so far, with many others under surveillance. Authorities have pledged to continue efforts to arrest all suspects.

High-Profile Involvement
Among the notable incidents, a video surfaced showing a man advancing while shooting at protesters in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area on August 4. The individual was identified as Asif Ahmed, a former councilor of Ward 33 of Dhaka North and a nephew of former army chief Aziz Ahmed. On the same day, local leaders from Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League launched attacks under Asif’s leadership.

In another incident on the same day, footage from the Basila road in Mohammadpur showed Tariquzzaman Rajib, another ex-councilor of Ward 33, and Masudur Rahman, a personal assistant to former MP Jahangir Kabir Nanak, firing shots at protesters.

Firearms in Chattogram, Feni, and Other Cities
In Chattogram, Youth League and Volunteer League members were seen openly using firearms to suppress protesters. Former Youth League leader Helal Akbar Chowdhury Babar, a known associate of former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, was identified among those wielding firearms.

In Feni, a viral video showed individuals with what appeared to be an AK-47-like firearm. On August 4, the day before the government’s collapse, nine people, including four students, were killed in Mohipal, Feni. Among the identified armed men were former district Chhatra League leader Ziauddin Babul and Abdur Rauf, a local Awami League leader. Law enforcement confirmed that 33 individuals wielded firearms during the incident, but only one, Osman Gani Liton, has been arrested and confessed in court.

Political Connections and Inaction
In Narayanganj, prominent figures, including Shamim Osman and his son Ayon Osman, were identified as carrying licensed firearms during the protests but failed to surrender their weapons by the September 4 deadline mandated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. In Faridpur, video evidence revealed at least 33 individuals, including three former councilors and Youth League and Chhatra League leaders, brandishing firearms. However, no arrests have been made.

Protesters Killed in Various Districts
In Habiganj, two individuals were killed, and several others injured by armed men reportedly led by former MP Abu Zahir. Similarly, authorities identified armed individuals in Sylhet, Jamalpur, Savar, Rajshahi, Lakshmipur, and Rangpur, though no arrests have been made.

Former MP SM Zahid, also a former Youth League leader, participated in an armed attack in Dhaka's Mirpur area on August 4. Despite his involvement, he remains at large. On August 2, Jahangir Hossain, an ex-councilor from Uttara, and several others brandished firearms in Jamjam Tower, Uttara. Meanwhile, Chhatra League leader Murtaza Bin Omar was seen with a firearm in Azampur, Uttara, on August 4. None of these individuals have been arrested to date.

Authorities have cited disruptions caused by attacks on police stations and the looting of weapons as reasons for delays in operations to arrest suspects. Nevertheless, efforts to track down those involved continue, with law enforcement facing criticism for the slow progress.

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