'State, ACC can't avoid responsibility'

Demanding Tk10 crore as compensation for Jaha Alam, speakers at a human chain yesterday said the state or Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cannot avoid the responsibility for the cruel and inhuman behaviour the victim was subjected to.

They also urged the government to find the persons responsible for the injustice to Jaha Alam, so that no one has to suffer the same fate.

Sammilito Samajik Andolon (SSA) organised the event in front of National Museum in the capital.

Mamunur Rashid, finance secretary of the organisation, read out a written statement at the event conducted by Saleh Ahmed, general secretary of SSA.

In the statement, they demanded to pay Jaha Alam Tk10 crore as compensation immediately.

“We can't understand how a national organisation like Sonali Bank accused Jaha Alam instead of Salek… It is urgent to find out either there was an ill-attempt to hide the real culprit or not,” the statement mentioned.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof Robayet Ferdous of Dhaka University said, “Despite having no similarity in information, Jaha Alam was suppressed only based on the concept of similarity with picture… Could ACC give him [Jaha Alam] back those three years he lost from his life?”

Ziauddin Tariq Ali, president of SSA, said, “The state and the ACC can't avoid the responsibility of cruel and inhuman behavior to Jaha Alam. We demand proper compensation for this. Otherwise, we will take to the streets again.”

Since February 2016, jute mill worker Jaha Alam had been languishing in jail after being wrongfully sentenced in a case for misappropriation of Sonali Bank money filed by ACC. He was released on Feb 4, after the HC exonerated him from the charges.