Mitford murder: Jubo Dal accuses police of intentional neglect, demands arrest of '3 real killers'

Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the BNP, has said that police deliberately left out the names of three real killers of trader and party activist Lal Chand alias Sohag from the First Information Report (FIR), and instead named three innocent individuals.

The organisation has also strongly criticised the current administration and the police over the handling of the murder case.

Sohag was viciously killed by several people in broad daylight near Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital in Dhaka on Wednesday (9 July). The CCTV camera footage of the shocking murder went viral yesterday, horrifying the nation and drawing severe criticism from all quarters.

"More than 60 hours have passed since the incident, yet despite having evidence of the murder in hand, the question remains — why haven't the main culprits been arrested till now? This is a major question and a mystery," Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna said.

He made the remarks while addressing a joint press conference by BNP affiliate organisations Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters today (July 12).

Munna highlighted his party's internal disciplinary actions, stating that numerous activists nationwide have been disciplined or expelled whenever credible allegations were raised.

"In almost the past year, thousands of our workers have been removed. We never evade responsibility; rather, we take full organisational action," he asserted.

He questioned why the authorities had not taken legal or administrative measures against the expelled members if they were indeed responsible.

Yesterday (11 July), Jubo Dal expelled two of its leaders for their alleged involvement in the murder. Rajjab Ali Pintu, former assistant secretary for climate affairs of the Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee, and Sabah Karim Lucky, joint convener of the Dhaka South Jubo Dal, have been permanently expelled from the organisation. Both were named in the case filed by the victim's family.

Munna pointed out, "The country's law and order situation has deteriorated due to administrative failures. A vested group has begun launching politically motivated, selective protests, issuing provocative and indecent statements targeting the BNP and its affiliated bodies."

He said the BNP has repeatedly urged the government and the administration to arrest the perpetrators and bring them under the law, but both have gravely failed in doing so.

On Wednesday (July 9), scrap metal trader Sohag was brutally killed in public near Mitford Hospital, with CCTV footage showing assailants continuing to attack the victim's lifeless body in a perverse display of brutality.

"In the current situation," Jubo Dal President Munna said, "We believe there is no alternative to the government and law enforcement agencies taking firm action. We urge you [authorities] to take effective steps to restore order.

"If any form of cooperation is needed from us in this regard, we are fully prepared to offer it," he said.

He also urged the public to remain vigilant so that no opportunistic political party or undemocratic force can exploit the fragile state of law and order to rise again.

In response to a question, Munna said the incident in Old Dhaka bears no resemblance to the Biswajit case.

"Just yesterday, a Jubo Dal leader was shot dead, and his legs' tendons were slashed in Khulna, and an attempt to murder an imam with a sharp weapon was made inside a mosque in Chandpur. This video has been circulated to divert attention from those incidents," he alleged.

Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayan, Swechchhasebak Dal President SM Jilani, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib, among others, were present at the press conference.