Himu’s Window

Ex-BNP deputy minister for land Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu was sued in yet another case for unleashing militants of Jama’atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) and own political cadres to tortures in retaliation for his nephew’s murder.

Torture victim Selim Reza of Ramsa Kagipur (Dulu’s home village) lodged the case on Sunday night with Natore Sadar police station accusing 21 others.

Dulu surrendered to a Dhaka court on February 20 and he is now facing a total of 16 cases including 6 for links with militancy.

Among other accused, militant Abdul Kuddus Mondol and Dulu’s cadre ward commissioner Sadrul Islam Dambel were held few weeks ago.

Dulu’s cadres Dalim, Dollar, Lion, Saiful, Tutul, Dablew, Minu, Malek, Babu, Golap, Dewan Shahin, Babul Chowdhury, Mostafizur Rahman Shahin, Sohel and militants Abdur Razzak Shah, Amzad, Kawsar, Hazraat Ali, Makbul Mastar and Ataur Rahman were accused in the case.

The plaintiff Selim Reza alleged in his case that Dulu’s nephew Sabbir Ahmed Gama was killed on February 7 in 2004 and for its retaliation, Dulu let loose militants of banned JMB along with own cadres to torture and harass his political, social and family opponents.

On April 18 morning, 2004, some 70 to 80 militants equipped with firearms and sharp weapons and led by Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai entered into Natore town via Station Bazar by motorcycles, micro-buses and trucks.

They gathered at Dulu’s Alaipur home where Dulu held meeting with Bangla Bhai. Local BNP leaders and senior police officials were present during the 30 to 40 minutes meeting, the plaintiff described.

In the meeting, Bangla Bhai promised Dulu to revenge the murder of Gama and took oath for killing those who killed Gama.

Later Dulu and Bangla Bhai openly addressed militants in front of Dulu’s home and they told that they would start from that day operations against outlaws and Dulu would provide all types of support.

Then Bangla Bhai and his men went toward Naldanga in Natore and started torture operations setting set up a camp at Akkelpur Bottala of Ramsa Kagipur.

Several hundred people like Mohidul Khan, Saiful, Shahidul, Dulal, Abdus Sattar and Abdul Mazid were abducted and tortured there with chili mixed hot water and pins, said Selim.      

In continuation to the tortures, armed cadres of Dulu kidnapped Selim from Old Bus Stand in Natore town on April 16 in 2006 and took him to a field behind PDB office.

They beat him up and tortured entering a burning cigarette into his nostrils. They enquired about Selim’s father Jahirul Haq Shah and brothers – Sazzad and Sohag who were ‘intentionally’ accused in Gama murder case, Selim alleged.

At a stage, Dewan Shahin sitting on Selim’s chest called Dulu on cell phone and wanted know his direction about Selim.

After phone call, they demanded Tk 1 lakh toll for rearing militants. Selim paid Tk 32,000 to save life.

Selim was later handed over to police and implicated in Gama murder case.

Suffering 7 days in jail, Selim was freed on bail and went to his sister Sathi.

Sathi told him that she phoned Dulu after his arrest and he (Dulu) told her that it was his men who tortured Selim and handed him over to police.