3 deceased AL leaders named in student movement attack case in Cumilla

Three deceased Awami League leaders have been named as accused in connection with a case filed over an attack on protesters of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Cumilla on 4 August.

The accused are Haji Abdul Momin, former forest and environment affairs secretary of Cumilla Sadar Upazila (South) Awami League, Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, former agriculture secretary, and Wahidur Rahman Farid, a member.

"The FIR is the initial step of the case. The matter will be investigated. If the names of the deceased are found [in the cases], they will be removed and a report will be submitted," said Sadar South Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Rafikul Islam.

On 2 October, Md Imran, a Comilla University student and coordinator of the student movement, filed a case against 296 people alleging that they attacked protesters, detonated crude bombs, and created terror at Monipur and Changini South intersection in Cumilla's Beltoli on 4 August.

Imran said, "The allegations are true. However, I am not sure whether there was a mistake in identifying the accused initially. I will now look into the matter."

According to Momin's relatives, he died on 24 June after being hit by a train. However, the case against him alleges that he was involved in the attack.

Aminul Islam, a neighbour of Kamal Uddin, said, "He died of a heart attack on 11 July 2023. It is condemnable to make a dead person an accused. If action is taken against the real culprits, no one would have any objection."

Mohammad Farhad, the elder son of Wahidur Rahman, said, "My father died of kidney disease in September 2023. This is a great injustice."

Mohammad Billal Hossain, organising secretary of Sadar Upazila (South) AL, said not only three deceased AL leaders but also many other elderly and ill individuals, including those residing in Canada and the United Kingdom, have been named as accused in this case.