NCP leader Raiyan Kashem named prime accused in Cox’s Bazar youth murder case
The accused include Raiyan’s father Jahangir Kashem, a former leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir and currently the central vice-president of AB Party
A case has been filed against 11 individuals, including a local leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Raiyan Kashem, over the murder of a young man in Cox's Bazar.
Raiyan Kashem is known as the Cox's Bazar coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
The case was lodged at Cox's Bazar sadar police station in the early hours today (7 May), by the victim's wife, Elmunnahar, according to Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jasim Uddin.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The accused include Raiyan's father Jahangir Kashem, a former leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir and currently the central vice-president of AB Party, Raiyan's uncle Tanvir Kashem, 50, Mohammad Anwar, 50, Mohammad Hossain, 28, Md Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan, 19.
Earlier, police arrested Raiyan Kashem, Mohammad Hossain, and Mizanur Rahman from the scene of the incident. They were sent to jail yesterday following a court appearance.
"Victim Ali Akbar's wife formally filed the case naming six individuals and listing five unidentified persons. Police have formally registered the case," said Additional SP Jasim Uddin.
"Operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects," he added.
Meanwhile, last night, agitated students and youth supporters of NCP took out a torch procession in protest of what they called a "conspiratorial arrest" of Raiyan Kashem.
The demonstration ended with a road blockade in front of the Superintendent of Police's office, where protesters demanded the withdrawal of the case and Raiyan's unconditional release. NCP activists issued a 48-hour ultimatum before ending the blockade.
The deceased, Ali Akbar, 25, son of Ali Ahmed of Kuliapara in Khurushkul union under Cox's Bazar Sadar upazila, was accused of stealing fish and was forcibly taken from his home and reportedly killed in a premeditated attack on Sunday (4 May) around midnight, claims the victim's family.
The victim's family alleged that Ali Akbar was falsely accused of fish theft and was abducted from his home and murdered in a premeditated attack stemming from a land dispute.
However, before being attacked by an angry mob, NCP leader Raiyan Kashem had told the media, "Ali Akbar was caught red-handed stealing from our hatchery by our security guards. When he attacked the guards, they struck back in self-defence, which led to his death."
