Case against Cox’s Bazar mayor sparks protest

Supporters of Cox’s Bazar municipality mayor and the district unit Awami League general secretary Majibur Rahman on Sunday staged demonstration by blocking the roads in the town as he was made main accused in a case.

On Sunday afternoon, Md Sahajahan, brother of former district unit Chattara League vice-president Abdul Monaf Sikder, filed the case accusing the mayor and 14 others.

The other accused in the case are: Sarwar Kamal Prakash Sabuj, Sadeq Ullah Siddiqui, Khairul Amin and his father Nurul Amin, Abdul Jabbar and Abu Siddique Khokon.

Monaf  received bullet injuries in an attack by unknown miscreants at Sugandha point of the beach town at night on October 27. He was first treated at the emergency department of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and later, shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Sources said that all the accused are leaders and activists of Awami League and Jubo League.

When news of the case against Mayor Majibur Rahman spread then his supporters and agitated people took to the streets in the evening. They started protesting with procession and road barricades.

All shops and bus counters in the district were closed at that time. The cleaning workers of the municipality stopped the traffic by leaving the garbage truck of the municipality in the middle of the road. The agitated people set fire on the road and created obstacles which stopped all types of traffic including long distance buses. Thousands of tourists are now stranded in the town.

Mayor Majibur Rahman said, “This case has been filed conspiratorially. Monaf Sikder is an identified terrorist in the town. There are several cases against him for various crimes including murder.”

Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Munirul Gias said they are investigating who was involved in the shooting of former BCL leader Monaf. The real culprits will be brought under the law in this case, he added.