Killed In Companiganj Violence: The 2 had nothing to do with politics

Two lives have been cut short, caught in the crossfire of gunfights between the two groups of the ruling Awami League in Noakhali's Companiganj in recent weeks.

The victims, one a local journalist and the other an auto-rickshaw driver, were not affiliated with any political party, their family members said.

After losing the breadwinners, the families now fear that they may never get justice.

Residents and local political leaders said, had police acted promptly after the clash on February 19, the second clash and the second death might not have happened.

Three days into the killing of auto-rickshaw driver Alauddin, 32, his family members could not file a case as of yesterday.

In her rickety tin-roofed house in Char Fakira area of Companiganj, 22-year-old Parvin Akhter Sumi was mourning the death of her husband Alauddin yesterday. She fears that the future of her two children, one aged four years and the other just nine months, is bleak.

"He was just an auto-rickshaw driver, a labourer," Sumi said in tears. "How will I live my life now? I want justice."

Alauddin went to Basurhat with two passengers on Tuesday night. After dropping off the passengers, Alauddin went to Basurhat Municipality area when the clash broke out, said a grieving family member.

The groups chased each other, threw brick chunks, hurled crude bombs, and used firearms for over two hours, witnesses said. Police also used firearms.

It is not clear whose gunshots killed Alauddin.

One of the groups is led by Abdul Quader Mirza, younger brother of AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader. The other group is led by Mizanur Rahman Badal, organising secretary of Companiganj upazila AL.

Hospital sources said Alauddin was hit by pellets from a shotgun.

Talking to The Daily Star on Thursday, Quader Mirza alleged that Alauddin was a victim of police action. Police denied the claim.

Alauddin's brother Emdad Hossain Raju went to Companiganj Police Station to file a case on Thursday accusing Mirza and 163 others. But police did not record the case.

Sources said Badal and Alauddin are neighbours in Char Fakira village and Badal's men might have convinced the family to accuse Mirza in the case.

A Qatar returnee, Alauddin had his own auto-rickshaw. But that rickshaw was burnt down by Mirza's supporters during a hartal on February 18.

He then took loans and bought a new one.

"How will we repay this loan now?" his mother Moriom Nesa asked.

Police picked up 28 people after Tuesday's clash.

It has been three weeks since the death of journalist Borhan Uddin Muzakkir.

The Police Bureau of Investigation on March 7 arrested a Jubo League activist in connection with the killing.

"We don't know anything, except that one arrest. The PBI investigation has yet to reveal how Muzakkir got killed. The memory card of the camera he was using during the violence also went missing. We are waiting… What else can we do?" Muzakkir's elder brother Noor Uddin asked.

The 22-year-old journalist worked for online portal Barta Bazar.

After the clash that left Muzakkir dead, at least four cases were filed accusing 142 named and 1,450 unnamed people.

Two of the cases filed by police are being investigated by the Detective Branch (DB), one is being probed by Companiganj police and the murder case is being investigated by the PBI.

Clashes between the supporters of Mirza and Badal in recent weeks left many others injured.

The situation in Companiganj changed on Thursday hours after the Awami League high-ups warned of action against people involved in the deadly clashes. Police were seen playing an active role after that.

On the same day, the DB in Noakhali arrested Mizanur Rahman Badal, the rival of Quader Mirza, in connection with four cases. He was sent to jail yesterday.

On Thursday night, a large number of law enforcers surrounded Mirza's office in Basurhat. There was a rumour that Mirza might be arrested too.

Sources said Mirza talked to government high-ups around 10:00pm. The situation changed after that.

Police teams were seen guarding his office yesterday and people were restricted from meeting him.

Mizanur Rahman Munshi, superintendent of Noakhali PBI, told The Daily Star yesterday that officers made significant progress in the investigation into the Muzakkir murder.

"We got information on suspects by interrogating one arrestee and by watching video footage of the place," the SP said.

Habibur Rasul Mamun, former president of Noakhali Lawyers Association, said if police know that there is a chance of violence taking place in an area, they can prevent it.

"It is not understandable how these two killings took place in a similar fashion amidst the presence of law enforcement agencies. Police should not have allowed these two groups to clash," he said.