JaPa office vandalism: Court orders to file case against Nur, 104 others

A court in Barishal has directed the police to register a case under the Speedy Trial Act against Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad and former Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) vice president, along with 104 other leaders and activists in regards to an alleged attack and vandalism at the Jatiya Party (JaPa) district office on 31 May.

Abdul Jalil, general secretary of JaPa's Barishal district unit and a lawyer, confirmed the development.

He stated that on the night of 31 May, activists of Gono Odhikar Parishad attacked and vandalised JaPa's office located on Fakirbari Road in the city.

Right after the incident, JaPa representatives attempted to lodge a complaint at the Kotwali Model Police Station, but the police reportedly refused to accept it. Consequently, the party filed a petition in court, which resulted in a directive to the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the station to officially record the case yesterday (3 July).

Then around 11am yesterday, a written complaint was submitted to the police station. Sub-Inspector (SI) Dolly, the duty officer, received the court order, Jalil added.

The case names 25 individuals, including Nurul Haque Nur, Rashed Khan, Barishal district unit president HM Shamim Reza, general secretary HM Hasan, and metropolitan general secretary Farhad Hossain. Additionally, 70–80 unidentified persons have been made accused.

Kotwali Model Police Station OC Mizanur Rahman said the station had not yet officially received the court documents but added, "If the duty officer has accepted them, we will process it accordingly."

In response, Farhad Hossain of Gono Odhikar Parishad's Barishal Metropolitan unit said they were unaware of any case filed regarding the vandalism. "If any legal action has been taken, we will deal with it through legal means," he said.

The clash reportedly began on the afternoon of 31 May, when Gono Odhikar activists allegedly attacked a JaPa rally in Barishal. JaPa supporters reportedly retaliated, resulting in further altercations. Around 9pm, members of Gono Odhikar Parishad and the anti-discrimination student movement allegedly gathered and vandalised the JaPa office.

In a counter move, a Gono Odhikar leader has reportedly filed a case against JaPa chairman, secretary general, and several others over the same day's events.