Moulvibazar correspondent :
Retired Additional District Magistrate and his men allegedly swopped on the protesters of a human chain with powdered chillies and acid mixed bottles in the district on Thursday.
The protesters alleged that they formed the human chain in front of the Moulvibazar Press Club to protest against the retired magistrate Faruk Ahmed who has been harassing the locals and attempted to encroach the residence of an American expatriate Afia Begum in Kalirgaon area of the town.
They also alleged that Faruk Ahmed has been harassing the innocent people of the locality by filing false cases.
The sufferers also said that the local people could not live peacefully in the district because of the attacks and intimidation of Faruk Ahmed and his men and many of them went to jail for false cases.
During the human chain, Faruk Ahmed and his people tried to thwart the protest with chilles and acid mixed bottles. Then the situation goes awry and the protesters blocked the road with the demand for justice. Under this situation, police intervened and brought the situation under control.
The protesters later submitted a memorandum to the district administration to get redress.
Md Helal, caretaker of Afia Begum, said, “Faruk Ahmed always intimidates us with cases. We cannot do business for him. Even we are intimidated with enforced disappearance if we want to do anything against him.”
Another aggrieved person Jewel Ahmad said, “Faruk Ahmed comes to my shop and intimidates with enforced disappearance. He also once hit my knee. I am in fear of his attacks.”
While talking to Faruk Ahmed over phone, he told this correspondent : “I have paid my rent. Afia Begum’s husband abused me with foul languages and told me to vacate the house. A case has been pending in the court in this regard. I will leave house following the court’s order.”
Asked about his attack on protesters with chillies and acid water, he said, “There’s no question about acid in my hand. It was a bottle full of Sarbat. I am a diabetic and heart patient. So I always carry Sarbat.”
About the attack on the human chain, he said, “The human chain was held without permission. So I inform it to the district administration and police. When no action is taken, then I, as a responsible citizen, went there and request the police not to allow the human chain.”
Regarding the incident, Deputy Commissioner Mir Nahid Ahsan said, “It’s really sad. We feel embarrassed. Faruk Ahmed was an Additional Magistrate. A departmental case is going on against him.”
