Trader protests looting of Tk 40 lakh goods, life threats

Md Jalal Ahmed, Patuakhali

Protesting the looting of Tk 40 lakh goods of a trader named Md Feroze Ashraf after the fall of the government last August 5  and constant threats to him and his family members to leave their house and demanding justice in these incidents, the victim trader held a press conference at Patuakhali Press Club on Tuesday noon.

He said in the written statement, “Last August 5, out of personal anger, 30-40 terrorists led by Saiful Islam Mridha and Rimanul Islam Rimu entered my house at about 6:45 pm and vandalized my house and godown. At that time, they beat up my old mother Shefali Begum and threatened us to leave the house. Again at 11:37 pm, the terrorists broke the locks of the godown and looted cash and goods worth Tk 40 lakh including gold ornaments.”

Md Feroze Ashraf also said, “After I informed the army stationed in Patuakhali by phone at 1:45 am, the army members came and searched the house of terrorist Saiful Mridha. Failing to find him, the army assured us to be patient and told us to take legal action later. When the situation became somewhat normal, I filed a case with the Patuakhali Speedy Trial Tribunal against 30-40 persons including Saiful Mridha, 40, Mahabub, 20, and Tanveer, 20, and another case against 40-50 persons including Saiful Mridha, 40, Sumon Mridha, 22, Monir Hossain, 30, Md Russell, 25, Limon, 26, and Sohag, 25, with the Patuakhali Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court. The courts directed the Patuakhali Sadar Police Station OC to receive both the cases as FIRs within 24 hours. But the police station OC is delaying to receive the cases for unknown reasons. Hearing the news of the case, terrorists are threatening to kill me and my entire family. I request administrative and media cooperation to lead a normal life by doing business.”

The Sadar Police Station OC Jasim Uddin said, the FIRs are being delayed due to busyness.