Case filed against two former MPs in Thakurgaon

A case has been filed against 77 individuals, including former water resources minister and ex-MP of Thakurgaon-1 constituency, Ramesh Chandra Sen, former reserved MP Draupadi Devi Agarwala, and former Mayor Anjuman Ara Begum Bannya, in connection with the deaths of four people due to arson, vandalism, looting, and burning during a quota reform protest in Thakurgaon.

The case was filed on Wednesday night by Zakir Hossain, the son of Mofiz Uddin from Arazipara village in Sadar Upazila, with the Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station. According to Officer-in-Charge (OC) ABM Feroz Wahid, the case names 77 accused individuals along with 150-200 unidentified persons.

The First Information Report (FIR) stated that on the afternoon of 5 August, the accused allegedly urged Raqibul Hasan (Rocky), Al Mamun, Shawon Parvez, and Abu Rayhan to stop their participation in the protest. When they refused, they were locked inside a room, and the perpetrators set fire to a gas cylinder outside. Locals rescued the victims in critical condition and rushed them to Thakurgaon General Hospital.

Raqibul Hasan Rocky was later referred to Rangpur Medical College and subsequently to Sheikh Hasina Burn Unit in Dhaka for advanced treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries on 10 August at around 6am. Al Mamun passed away while being transported from Thakurgaon to Dhaka, and Shawon Parvez and Abu Rayhan are still undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Additionally, it was reported that the law enforcement authorities arrested the ex-mayor, Anjuman Ara Begum Bannya, from Boda Police Station at around 1am on Thursday (22 August). She was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court later that day, where Judge Nityananda Sarkar ordered her to be sent to jail in connection with the murder case filed by Zakir Hossain, the father of the deceased Raqibul Hasan Rocky.

On Saturday, Judicial Magistrate Rajib Kumar Roy ordered the detention of the case's prime accused, Ramesh Chandra Sen, under the Explosive Substances Act.