Cases criminal, pleas political

Her morning started like many other housemaids on that January day in 2011. But she accidentally broke a water glass. That would prove to be a fatal event. Her employer beat her and denied any treatment to the severely injured girl.

The eighteen-year-old Zesmeen Akter (as spelt in police report) was taken by her brother to the Barisal Medical College hospital eight days later on January 28, where she died the next day.

The autopsy report said there were several bruises on her body and that she died of torture.

The girl was working at the home of Dhaka City unit Jubo Mahila League Organising Secretary Israt Jahan Nasrin.

Her father, Iskander Ali, filed an unnatural death case the same day and then a murder case on April 3 against Israt Jahan Nasrin and Barisal Jubo Mahila League leader Nazma Akhter with Barisal Kotwali Police Station.

Later, the CID took over the case and pressed charges against the two leaders on October 24, 2014. 

The charge sheet said Nasrin and Nazma, brutally tortured Zesmeen after she had broken a water glass. Nazma used to live in the same home with Nasrin in Dhaka.

A Barisal court issued arrest warrants against the duo who are on the run, at least on paper.

It appeared to be an open-and-shut case and justice for Zesmeen's family seemed certain. But things are not so simple if the accused are close to the ruling party.

Nasrin and Nazma appealed to the home ministry to withdraw the case saying the case was filed on political grounds.

These two are not alone.

Many other high-profile ruling party men accused of murders, clashes and damaging government properties and facing lawsuits have appealed to the ministry on the same ground, that the cases were politically motivated.

They are now lobbying, with the help of influential leaders of their party, to get the cases withdrawn, said sources in the ministry.

In some instances, the “fugitives” themselves are visiting the ministry, said officials.

At present, at least 360 such cases are pending with the ministry. The appeals, filed after the ruling Awami League came to power for the second time in 2014, are now being examined.

After their win in 2009, the AL government decided in February next year to withdraw the politically motivated cases against the party leaders and activists that were filed during the BNP-led four-party government and later, during the two-years of the caretaker government.

Around 6,000 cases were later withdrawn starting with the cases against party chief Sheikh Hasina. But the incumbent Awami League-led government did not withdraw any such case filed after it came to power again through the January 5, 2014, polls. 

Sources said ruling party leaders, ministers and lawmakers have been lobbying for withdrawal of such cases, thus putting the home ministry officials in an uncomfortable position.

The ministry in July this year formed a committee led by a joint secretary to handle the appeals.

The committee decided to send the appeals to the law ministry for its opinion on whether those have the grounds to be withdrawn.

Atiqul Huq, joint secretary of the ministry, who led the committee, told The Daily Star, "I had received some 132 applications around one-and-half-months ago. Among those cases, many were not politically motivated. Even the law ministry rejected many applications."

He, however, could not say how many of the cases were political. "We can say that only after scrutinising the applications,” he said.

A top official of the home ministry told The Daily Star that most of the appeals had no valid grounds for withdrawal. "But some cases had grounds and we will go for their withdrawal after proper scrutiny," he said.

Sources in the home ministry, however, said majority of the appeals had no links to politics.

Already a number of applications have been sent to the law ministry and the ministry turned down many of them. Opinions of the public prosecutors were being taken in some of the cases.

In the case against Nasrin and Nazma, the public prosecutor of Barisal, Giasuddin Babul opined that the case needs to be disposed of at the court.

The district magistrate and police commissioner of Barisal were of similar opinions, according to a home ministry document.

Talking to The Daily Star, Babul said the case had no political links.

"Moreover, there is no political connection with the accused and complainant," he said, adding, "I gave negative comments and suggested disposition of the case through the court."

When The Daily Star contacted Nasrin, she denied torturing Zesmeen Akter and said, "Zesmeen was sick for a long time and died 15 days after leaving her job in my home."

"I am a victim of conspiracy," Nasrin claimed.

Asked to explain the conspiracy, she said a leader of Barisal Krishak League, farmers' wing of the ruling party, in her area was running a smear campaign against her that the girl died from severe abuse.

"It was just to harass me politically and socially."

Elsewhere, in an incident of political violence, Satkhira District Matsyajibi Dal leader Amanullah Aman was hacked to death during a BNP rally at the District Shilpakala Academy on September 6, 2013.

A case was filed with the Satkhira Police Station.

One of the accused in the case is local Jubo League leader Mehedi Hossain and he has appealed for withdrawal of the case against him. 

The home ministry sent the case to the law ministry for its opinion and just like the case against Nasrin, it was turned down, said sources.

This sensational case is now under trial with a Satkhira court.

When The Daily Star contacted Mehedi, he claimed that he was not involved in the murder and that he was in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah during that time.

He alleged that his business rivals had him implicated in the case.

In a case of workplace rowdiness, workers of the Crescent Jute Mills in Khalispur of Khulna Industrial Area ransacked the factory on July 22, 2014 demanding payment of their dues.

They also kept the factory officials locked up. Later, a top official of the factory, Gausul Azam, filed a case with Khalispur Police Station against the workers for damaging government property that carries a maximum punishment of life-term.

Three CBA leaders were fired in connection with the incident. They are Hemayetuddin Azadi, Ismail Hossain and Abul Kalam.

They appealed to the home ministry for withdrawal of the case. Local lawmaker and former minister Monnuzan Sufian has also recommended for them.

After the incident Monnuzan held several meetings with the factory authorities to get their terminations withdrawn.

The appeal for withdrawal of the case is pending with the home ministry.