4 'Missing' Gaibandha Leaders: Locals enforce half-day hartal, block railroad

Demonstrators in Sadullapur upazila yesterday blockaded the rail tracks for an hour during a half-day-long shutdown that was called in protest at the "disappearance" of four local political leaders nearly nine days ago.

The protesters held the Lalmonirhat-bound Lalmoni Express, an inter-city train, at Naldanga railway station till 12:00noon, locals said.

As part of the shutdown programme, they also formed a human chain and staged a sit-in protest in the upazila town.

The "missing" local leaders are Monwarul Hassan Jim, 40, senior vice-president of Sadullapur upazila Jubo League and former chairman of Damodarpur union; Sadequl Islam Sadeq, 35, former president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Damodarpur union; Maidul Islam Prince, 30, publication secretary of Awami League, Naldanga union; and Shafiul Islam Shapla, 32, assistant secretary of Jubo Dal, Naldanga union.

Jim's father Golam Mostafa Dipti said his son went "missing" on January 9 around 10:00pm when he was on his way to Lal Bazar area on his motorbike to pick up Sadeq, another "missing" person. The two were supposed to go to Naldanga together. 

The family members found Jim's cell phone turned off since then, he added. 

Jim's wife Lovely Begum filed a missing report with Sadullapur Police Station on January 11.

Prince's elder brother Tariqul Islam Nayan, chairman of Naldanga union parishad, said plainclothes individuals identifying themselves as law enforcers "picked up" his brother and "took away" his motorbike on January 10 from Naldanga Rail Gate area around 11:00am.

His cell phone remained switched off ever since, Nayan added.

Shapla's father Aminul Islam's version was similar to that of Nayan's as well. He said his son was picked up from Kachari Bazar area of Naldanga at the same time and on the same day. 

Officer-in-Charge Farhad Imrul Qayes of Sadullapur Police Station said police were working to trace the four individuals.