AL smells a rat

Rejecting the government version that robbers incinerated 11 of a family of 12 in Banshkhali, they demanded a judicial probe, gave a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest the criminals and unveiled a four-day programme to protest the massacre.

They claimed cadres of the BNP-led four-party alliance masterminded the carnage as part of a blueprint to force the minority communities out of Bangladesh.

The leaders of Chittagong city, north and south districts of AL were briefing journalists about the massacre at the local press club yesterday afternoon after visiting the scene in the morning.

The leaders said poring over the scene, evidence and relevant information, they found the government's claim of robbery baseless.

"Robbers don't use gunpowder or petrol for committing a crime. In the Banshkhali bloodbath, the killers used all with the intent crystal clear to all," one of them said.

"Had they been robbers, they would have looted some valuables from the victims' house," he said.

The AL leaders said criminals stood guard outside the house while it was on fire to ensure the death of inmates.

Robbers usually flee the scene with the loot immediately after committing a crime, but the gang in Banshkhali got away only after confirming the death of their victims, they said.

Replying to a question, they said it was the responsibility of the government to hunt down the guilty and punish them.

AL Presidium Member Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser, City President MA Mannan, General Secretary and Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, North District President Mosharraf Hossain, South District President Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury and general secretaries of south and north districts Moslemuddin Ahmad and MA Salam spoke at the briefing.

The protest programmes include hoisting of black flags in Banshkhali upazila, wearing of black badges in Chittagong on Saturday, submission of memoranda to the local deputy commissioner (DC) and Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) commissioner on November 23 and a protest rally on November 24.

The AL will go for a tougher agitation, including hartal, if the perpetrators are not held by November 24, they said.