Case filed over Savar bus Arson, Ex-CRAB president among those accused, DRU calls for impartial investigation

A case has been filed over the recent arson attack on a bus parked by the roadside in Savar, naming 60-70 people as accused, including Kamruzzaman Khan, former president of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB), and the bus owner.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Abbas Uddin filed the case as plaintiff at Savar Model Police Station on 22 September night. The case describes all the accused as leaders, activists and supporters of local Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and Sramik League.

Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has issued a statement condemning and protesting the naming of Kamruzzaman Khan, a former CRAB president and permanent DRU member, as an accused in the case.

The statement, signed by the organisation's office secretary, Rashim Mollah, was issued yesterday (23 September).

Khan himself denies any involvement in the incident and has expressed surprise at being named.

He said that although Savar is his family home, he lives in Dhaka, and he was stunned to learn he had been named in a case over an incident there.

Khan has long been engaged in journalism. He is a member of the National Press Club, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Savar Press Club and several other journalist organisations. He has previously served as CRAB president and in other roles, and currently works as a senior reporter at the English daily Times of Bangladesh.

Khan was earlier listed as publicity and publication secretary of the Savar upazila unit of the Bangladesh Awami League, whose activities have been banned. However, he has never been seen to be politically active in the area, and he claims he is not involved in any party activities even now.

"I have been a journalist since 1998," Khan said. "In December 2003, I started working on the crime beat in Dhaka with Bhorer Kagoj, where I remained for a long time. About a year ago, I joined the English daily Times of Bangladesh as a senior reporter. Professionally, I am a member of the National Press Club, Savar Press Club and Dhaka Reporters Unity. I also held various responsibilities in the Crime Reporters Association."

He added, "Since I work in Dhaka, I have been settled here for many years. I consider myself a professional journalist. My name was on the Awami League committee in Savar, but I was never active. I was stunned and speechless when I learned from fellow journalists in Savar that my name was in the case."

What the First Information Report Says

According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed on 22 September last, SI Md. Abbas Uddin of Savar Model Police Station was at the Radio Colony U-turn in Savar at 2:40am that night. Locals told him that Chhatra League activists, chanting "Joy Bangla", had gathered with petrol bombs to set fire to a bus in the Dhaka-bound lane of the Dhaka-Aricha highway, near the Radio Colony staff quarters.

He went to the spot with a police force and found 60-70 people, chanting slogans in the name of Chhatra League activists, setting fire to a bus with petrol bombs. Noticing the police presence, most of the accused fled on motorcycles and a microbus, while the others ran away along nearby roads. He recognised several Chhatra League activists. Fire Service personnel were called in quickly and put out the blaze. He later identified the accused with the help of locals present at the scene.

The FIR also states that, according to questioning of locals and secret sources, the owner of the burning Savar Paribahan bus, accused Habibur Rahman Hridoy (25), is a Chhatra League supporter and a close associate of Awami League leader Murad Jung, a former member of parliament for the Dhaka-19 (Savar) constituency. It says Habibur had parked the bus, without its engine and gearbox, on the roadside footpath with ill intent. On the orders, with the assistance and under the patronage of Habibur Rahman, Murad Jung and Selim Mondal, former chairman of Birulia Union, the other accused were allegedly gathered and the bus was set on fire.

The FIR further says Sohel Rana (30), former president of the Savar Sadar Union Chhatra League, was arrested in an operation the same night from the Akrain Bazar area of Birulia Union. It says he confessed during preliminary interrogation to setting the bus on fire by throwing a petrol bomb.

Saiful Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Savar Model Police Station, said a case has been filed under the Explosive Substances Act naming 40 people and listing another 20-30 unidentified people as accused. "If any of the accused are found not to be involved after investigation, they will certainly be discharged from the case," he said.

DRU Condemns and Protests

In a statement issued yesterday on behalf of the DRU executive committee, President Abu Saleh Akon and General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel said Kamruzzaman Khan has been accused number 18. Besides the 40 named accused, another 20-30 unidentified people have been accused in the case.

The DRU leaders said it is unclear what specific allegations are made against Kamruzzaman in the FIR, or what evidence there is of his alleged involvement. They said that if a case were used to harass a journalist or pressure them professionally, it would be a matter of concern for independent journalism.

They also noted that Kamruzzaman Khan has not lived in Savar for a long time, and said the decision to name him in connection with an incident there needs to be properly investigated. They called on the authorities concerned not to take harassing steps against anyone without specific and verifiable evidence.