Rajshahi Bagha upazila Awami League General Secretary Ashraful Islam Babul's murder trial and the defamation accusation against Awami League presidium member and Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton have led to demands for exemplary punishment against ex-state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam.
A procession was organized by Rajshahi Metropolis RahAwami Jubo League, Sramik League, Swachhasebak League, and Chhatra League took out a protest march from the front of the Awami League office at Kumarpara in Rajshahi city on Friday afternoon.
The procession circled various important roads of the city ending with a protest rally at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point.
During the rally, speakers declared MP Shahriar Alam undesirable in Rajshahi district and metropolis, and his effigy was burned at the end of the event.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Awami Jubo League President Moniruzzaman Khan Monir presided over the protest march and rally.
The speakers emphasized that Ashraful Islam Babul was a dedicated leader of the Awami League, and they demanded justice for his murder and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
One speaker said: "There has been a prolonged conflict within the committee of the Bagha Document Writers' Association. Shahriar Alam did not take any initiative to resolve this conflict. This conflict led to clashes between the two sides and the death of Awami League leader Babul. Shahriar Alam is the mastermind behind Babul's death. He has been declared undesirable in Rajshahi district and metropolis."
The speakers added that AHM Khairuzzaman Liton is a presidium member of the Awami League and a three-time elected mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation. Shahriar Alam made bold comments against public leader AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Asaduzzaman Asad MP, and Bagha Upazila Parishad Chairman Layab Uddin Lavlu.
Meanwhile, a case has been filed in court regarding the clash between two groups of the Awami League in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi. Shahinur Rahman, president of the upazila document writers’ association, has been named the main accused. Additionally, 32 more people have been named in the case, with another 100 to 150 unidentified individuals also accused.
Earlier, on June 22, a clash occurred between two groups of the Awami League at Bagha upazila headquarters in Rajshahi. At least 50 activists from both sides were injured. Among them, upazila Awami League General Secretary Ashraful Islam Babul was seriously injured and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on the same day. He passed away on the afternoon of June 26 while undergoing treatment.
The clash was triggered by a dispute over the collection of additional money by the Bagha upazila Dalil Writers Association of Rajshahi and the spread of dominance.
Following the clash, a case was filed with the police station on behalf of the deed writers’ association, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals so far. A new case has now been filed in court as a counter case.
