No less than a movie

It was an unusual but lucrative offer for Selim Mia, a rickshaw-puller in Brahmanbaria's Chhoto Kuripaika village.

He would get an auto-rickshaw worth Tk 1.5 lakh on condition that he surrendered to a court, impersonating alleged drug peddler Abdul Hannan, and spent a few days in jail, if needed.

Selim was also assured that he would be freed on bail in case he is sent to prison.

Thinking it would turn the wheel of fortune for his family, 35-year-old Selim took the bait.

He surrendered before the District and Sessions Judge's Court on March 11, and the court sent him to jail in a drug smuggling case filed against Hannan, general secretary of Akhaura Municipal Swechhasebak League, on December 13, 2014.

Two weeks went by, but Selim's family didn't receive any money or communication from Hannan or his lawyer Dolonara Begum.

Helpless and scared, Selim disclosed everything to the jail authorities that communicated the matter to the District and Sessions Judge's Court.

Judge Ismail Hossain of the court came to know about the matter during hearing of the case on March 25.

The judge then talked to Selim in his chamber where the rickshaw-puller confessed impersonating Hannan and offered apology, according to court sources.

The court then asked the chief judicial magistrate to file cases against both Hannan and Selim. It also issued arrest warrant against Hannan, also member of Akhaura Dakkhin Union Parishad.

As per the court directives, two cases were filed with Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station against the duo the same day.

Shah Alam, president of Akhaura Municipal Swechhasebak League, said, “We have just learnt about the incident. We will take action against him [Hannan].

This correspondent went to Hannan's house in Noorpur village yesterday, but found it locked. His neighbours said he had fled to India.

According to court sources and a number of lawyers, Dolonara allegedly played a key role in the deception.

The District and Sessions Judge's Court issued a show cause notice to her on March 25, saying it was tantamount to deception to seek bail by making someone impersonate an accused.

She was asked to reply in 10 days why the matter would not be conveyed to the High Court and Bangladesh Bar Council.

Brahmanbaria Bar Association on Tuesday formed a sub-committee comprised of 10 lawyers to look into the matter. The committee found another such case involving Dolonara.

In that case, domestic help Hazera Begum, wife of Kawsar Mia in Razapur village, was offered Tk 50,000 for impersonating Shuva Begum, 32, an alleged drug peddler of the same village.

As Hazera appeared before the District and Sessions Judge's Court on March 6, it sent her to prison in a drug smuggling case filed against Shuva, wife of Antu Chowdhury, on November 23, 2015.

On Tuesday, scores of lawyers from Brahmanbaria Bar Association quizzed Shuva's husband Antu and recorded it.

Antu told them that Dolonara had taken Tk 1.80 lakh for securing bail for his wife.

He also claimed he didn't know that Hazera impersonated his wife.

"It's a conspiracy by Dolonara Begum," Antu said.

This correspondent visited Shuva's house yesterday, but found it locked.

Contacted, Dolonara said she didn't know Hannan and Shuva in person.

Claiming innocence, she said, "It is a conspiracy by a section of lawyers."

Shafiul Alam Liton, secretary of Brahmanbaria Bar Association, said the sub-committee is now trying to find out whether more such cases of deception had taken place.

Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman said they are yet to find out Hannan's whereabouts.

Asked about the rumours of Hannan's escape to India, the police official said they would alert the immigration police about Hannan.