Md Joynal Abedin Khan with Selim Reza :
Mayor Halimul Haque Miru of Shahzadpur municipality in Sirajganj district reportedly used his arms frantically, violating the rules and regulations of licensed weapons on February 2 resulting in the tragic end of a journalist.
That is why the local people call him ‘pistol mayor’, while some others label him as ‘gun mayor’, ‘commission Miru’ and ‘tender Miru’.
Miru and his goons used to import arms from India, dodging the law enforcers’ eyes. His rented and nurtured cohorts always remain ready to carry out his instructions in the upazila, sources said.
The residents of Shahzadpur municipality and the government employees are helpless to the offensive activities of the mayor’s gang.
Another sources said, Miru came to Shahzadpur after dismissal from the Bangladesh Rifles (now BGB) on charge of beating a high officials in 1978. He was also expelled from the Awami League four times for violating the rules of the party’s charter. He is a fake freedom fighter and all the facilities he enjoyed have already been cancelled. He was also expelled from Shahzadpur College in 1981.
There are allegations of killing at least five persons, including an innocent housewife in the Naluar Cahar of Shahzadpur upazila in Sirajganj district in last seven years, they said.
In the latest incident, the Daily Samokal local correspondent Shimul was shot dead on February 2 that triggered a countrywide protest demanding exemplary punishment to him.
When Shimul was capturing the pictures of mayor’s firing from his gun on his camera, the mayor shot at Shimul. We demand exemplary punishment to the mayor and his brothers,” said Shimul’s cousin Dr Abul Kalam Azad.
“Miru fired five bullets from his gun, one of which hit Shimul in the head. He was there to discharge his duty as a journalist,” he said on Saturday before attending Shimul’s Namaz-e-Janaza.
When contacted, Abul Hasnat, Assistant Superintendent of Police in Sirajganj, said that police in primary investigation found evidence of firing and bullet injuries.
He said they seized the mayor’s firearm and recovered 43 bullets from his house. After forensic tests, it could be ascertained whether the bullet was fired from the mayor’s firearm, he said.
Rezaul Haque, officer-in-charge of Shahzadpur Police Station, said six accused, including Miru and his two brothers-Habibul Haque Mintu and Hasibul Haque Pintu-were arrested in connection with the killing.
On February 2, the clash erupted following ‘assault’ on Bijoy Mahmud, President of Chhatra League at Shahzadpur Government College. One of the factions encircled Miru’s residence, blaming him for the assault on the Chhatra League leader.
Shahzadpur Government College’s Chhatra League President Bijoy Mahmud said, not only common men and the government employees fear Miru and his gang, most of the ruling party men also are scared of him.
They never consider the part interests, but interests of their own men. Even the engineers and inspectors never visit the construction worksites of the Miru gang, according to him.
He hired goons from Pabna district to ensure the security of the mayor as per his demand, Bioy said.
The mayor’s gang once attacked him in presence of the mayor as he protested the sub-standard work done by his men, he claimed.
A 25-member armed gang always remains ready to execute all orders of Mayor and his two siblings Pintu and Mintu, Bijoy added
Shimul’s wife Nurun Nahar Begum filed a case with Shahzadpur Police Station on February 3 against Miru, his two brothers, 15 named and 20 to 25 unnamed people.
“The bullet, which was shot from the mayor’s house during the agitation, hit my husband, leaving him critically injured, and he died of his injuries Friday noon,” reads the case statement.
“I want punishment of the real culprits no matter whatever position they hold,” said Nurun Nahar.
