Mithapukur upazila chairman, 2 vice-chairmen removed

Chairman, vice chairman and female vice chairman of Mithapukur Upazila Parishad in Rangpur district have been removed from their posts as they are charge-sheeted accused in a case for torching a passenger bus which killed five people and injured many others in 2014.

He received a letter in this regard from the ministry concerned a few days ago, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Salauddin on Monday.

The trio are upazila chairman Golam Rabbani, also ameer of the upazila unit of Jamaat, vice chairmen Abdul Based Marzan and Morsheda Begum. 

Golam Rabbani and Abdul Based Marzan are now in Rangpur jail while Morsheda Begum went into hiding. Earlier on November 23 last year, they were suspended from their posts.

The three were elected chairman and vice chairman in the upazila parishad election held in 2014.

On January 13 in 2014, at least five people were burnt to death while many others were injured as criminals hurled petrol bombs on a passenger bus on Rangpur-Kurigram road at Fathepur village in Mithapukur upazila of the district. Later, a case was filed in this connection.

Police submitted charge sheet against the trio in the case on May 17 this year.

Police said the trio also played a key role to deteriorate law and order in the upazila soon after February 28, 2013 verdict on a case against Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

Jamaat-Shibir men of the upazila carried out atrocities in the area then.