Day labourer's family alleges brutal assault by supporters of Hasnat Abdullah

A day labourer has alleged that he was brutally assaulted and robbed by supporters of NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah for serving as an election agent for the Truck symbol of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, a BNP ally, during the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

According to an investigative report published by Kaler Kantho, the victim, Mohiuddin, a day labourer with little involvement in politics, said the incident stemmed from a dispute on the election day when he requested one of his relatives to vote for the Truck symbol. 

Mohiuddin alleged that leaders and activists of the National Citizen Party (NCP) pressured the voter to cast a ballot for the Water Lily (Shapla) symbol instead, triggering a verbal altercation with supporters of Hasnat Abdullah.

He claimed that the following night, a group of 20 to 30 people, allegedly led by local NCP leader Al-Amin, attacked him at a local market with the intention of killing him. He said he survived only after local residents intervened. During the assault, he alleged, the attackers took Tk11,000 that he had been carrying for his child's medical treatment.

Mohiuddin’s wife, Happy Begum, alleged that the attackers targeted her husband because they believed he supported the BNP. She claimed that more than a dozen people surrounded him while several others repeatedly beat him, including striking him on the head. 

She appealed for justice, saying her husband repeatedly pleaded that he had done nothing wrong, but the attackers ignored his pleas.

Happy Begum further alleged that the attackers expressed hostility toward the BNP, saying they wanted to eliminate the party and replace it with a new political force.

Mohiuddin's elder brother alleged that when the family attempted to file a police case, officers refused to accept the complaint and instead warned them against "playing with fire." He also accused Hasnat Abdullah of facilitating the rehabilitation of Awami League activists in Debidwar despite publicly opposing the party.

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After failing to file a case, Mohiuddin's father, Monu Mia, said the family sought a compromise with the alleged attackers out of concern for their safety. However, he claimed they were met with further threats from individuals he described as supporters of Hasnat Abdullah. He alleged that intimidation and harassment by the group were continuing and demanded justice.

Responding to the allegations, accused NCP supporter Al-Amin Molla denied any involvement in the attack. He said he did not know who had assaulted Mohiuddin and claimed he was unaware whether any money had been taken during the incident.

Contacted for comment, Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman said he was unaware of the alleged assault and maintained that no complaint had been filed with the police. He added that he did not recall anyone attempting to lodge a case on or after election day.