Freedom fighters on Saturday declared Rajshahi-6 constituency lawmaker and former state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam unwanted in the Rajshahi city for his ‘intentional and hatred’ speech towards ruling Awami League presidium member and Rajshahi City Corporation mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.
They also urged the AL central committee to expel Shahriar from the party immediately for hatching conspiracies to split the party leaders and activists and insulting freedom fighter and Rajshahi district AL president Anil Kumar Sarkar.
Earlier on June 22, two factions of AL leaders and activists clashed at Bagha upazila, leaving at least 50 leaders and activists injured.
Of the 18 injured who were admitted to Bagha Upazila Health Complex, Bagha upazila AL general secretary Ashraful Islam Babul and Arani union parishad chairman Rafiqul Islam were referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Babul, however, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the RMCH on Wednesday afternoon.
While attending Babul namaz-e-janaza on Thursday afternoon, Shahriar Alam blamed AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Rajshahi-3 constituency lawmaker Asaduzzaman Asad, and Bagha upazila parishad newly elected chairman and Rajshahi district AL joint general secretary Layeb Uddin Lavlu for the death of Babul.
He also announced that a case would be filed against the trio for baking Babul’s killers, and he would not leave the streets until the trio was punished.
To protest against Shahriar’s remarks on AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and two others, Rajshahi district and city units of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Sector Commanders Forum-Liberation War’71, and Muktijoddha Sangsad Santan Command formed a human chain in the Saheb Bazar zero point area on Saturday morning.
Addressing the human chain, Rajshahi city AL president freedom fighter Mohammad Ali Kamal said that Shahriar obtained his nomination for the national election in 2009 by grabbing AHM Khairuzzaman Liton’s feet.
‘Now, you are making arrogant remarks and hatching conspiracy against AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. Ask for a pardon from Liton. We are declaring you unwanted in the Rajshahi city AL politics,’ he said.
Abdul Mannan, former commander of Rajshahi city unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, said that Shahriar Alam was trying to do politics with the body of Ashraful Islam Babul and was trying to divert the case in another way.
‘We are declaring you (Shahriar) unwanted in the Rajshahi city. We also demand that the AL central committee expel you from the party immediately,’ he said, calling for a fair investigation into and justice for Babul’s death.
Among others, senior public prosecutor freedom fighter Entazul Haque, Rajshahi district unit Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad former commanders Yasin Ali and Matiur Rahman, National Awami Party Rajshahi district convener freedom fighter Saidul Islam spoke at the human chain.
Earlier at a rally on Friday evening, Rajshahi district and city units Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Sramik League, and Chhatra League declared Shahriar Alam unwanted in Rajshahi.