Leaders and activists of Jatiya Sramik League, the ruling Awami League鈥檚 labour organisation, on Saturday formed a human chain in Rajshahi city, demanding a fair probe into and proper justice for the death of AL activist Noynal Uddin.
Over 100 of them, under the banner of 鈥楯atiya Sramik League Rajshahi city unit鈥�, formed the human chain in Saheb Bazar zero point area at about 10:00am, where Bangladesh Postman and Postal Workers Union, Bangladesh Road and Township Workers Union, Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority Employees Union, Sanitary Workers Sramik League, Gas Sramik League, Railway Sramik League Headquarters and Open Line Branch, Rajshahi Education Board Employees Union, District Truck, Tank Lorry, and Covered Van and Tractor Sramik Union joined, expressing solidarity.
The police recovered the decomposed body of Noynal, 60, a resident of Shyampur village of Paba upazila in Rajshahi, from a manhole near the political office of lawmaker Omor Faruk Chowdhury in Rajshahi city on December 12.
Later, Noynal鈥檚 sister Kulsum Begum filed a murder case against unnamed persons with Boalia police station of Rajshahi metropolitan police.
Addressing the human chain, Jahurul Islam, vice-president of Rajshahi city Sramik League, said that the place, where Noynal鈥檚 body was found, was a protected area and none could enter there without permission.
鈥楨ven after finding a body in such a protected area, the police have not detained anyone for questioning. Noynal鈥檚 family is not getting justice as he was helpless and poor,鈥� he continued.
鈥楽o, if I am killed, will my family not receive justice? Is this how things can continue?鈥� he questioned.
Rajshahi city Sramik League general secretary Akhtar Ali said that according to the post-mortem report, Noynal died on December 8 or 9, although his body was recovered on December 12.
鈥榃hy was then bleaching powder sprinkled on the body when it started spreading a stench? There was less than a waist of water in the manhole. How did a healthy person fall into that water and die? Why was there no CCTV footage of the scene? Who will answer these questions?鈥� he asked.
Rajshahi city Sramik League president Mahabul Alam said that if such an incident happened in the manhole of someone鈥檚 house, the police might have arrested and taken all the family members of that person on remand.
鈥楤ut why did the police not arrest a single person for questioning in this incident? We want an answer to this question,鈥� he said.
Speakers at the event urged prime minister and home minister to ensure a fair probe into and proper justice for the mysterious death of Noynal.
