Case filed over killing of Sherpur Jamaat leader; 231 named as accused

A murder case has been filed in connection with the death of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Maulana Rezaul Karim, 42, who was killed in a clash between BNP and Jamaat in Sherpur on Wednesday.

Sherpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Kamrul Islam confirmed the development to The Daily Star this morning, saying 231 people have been named as accused in the case. In addition, there are 400 to 500 unidentified accused, he said.

Two days after the incident, Rezaual Karim’s wife, Marjia Begum filed the case with Jhenaigati Police Station around yesterday midnight.

The SP said, “Police have started the investigation. Based on the findings, the perpetrators will be brought under the law, and no innocent person will be harassed.”

“If anyone tries to engage in case-trading by threatening others with implicating them in this case, they should inform the police. Those involved in case-trading will be brought under the law as extortionists.”

Jamaat’s district ameer, Maulana Hafizur Rahman, confirmed the filing of the case this morning.

However, he did not immediately disclose the names of the accused.

A police official, preferring not to be named, said the case was lodged around 11:45pm yesterday.

Rezaul Karim, the secretary of Jamaat’s Sreebordi upazila unit in Sherpur. Hailed from Gopalkhila village area in Sreebordi, Rezaul was a lecturer in Arabic at a local madrasa.

Rezaul suffered critical head injuries in clashes with BNP men Wednesday afternoon, said Nuruzzaman Badal, Jamaat candidate from Sherpur-3 (Jhenaigati-Sreebordi).

Rezaul Karim died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) around 9:45 pm on Wednesday night. Rezaul sustained critical injuries along with some 50 Jamaat activists and supporters in clashes with BNP men this afternoon.

Rezaul and two others -- Aminul Islam and Maulana Tahirul Islam -- were referred to MMCH where Rezaul died. Maulana Tahirul was later sent to Dhaka, said Nuruzzaman.

The clash broke out over seating arrangements at a programme around 3:00pm at the Jhenaigati Upazila Mini Stadium ground, leaving at least 65 people injured, locals and witnesses said.

They said the upazila administration organised the programme, where candidates for the Sherpur-3 constituency were invited to present their electoral manifestos before voters.

However, supporters of the BNP and Jamaat nominated candidates got into an altercation over sitting in the front row, triggering the clash.

Meanwhile, Jamaat leaders and activists held a protest procession and rally yesterday afternoon demanding justice for the killing of Rezaual Karim.

Starting from College Mor in the town, the procession marched through the main roads and ended with a rally in front of the deputy commissioner’s office. Addressing the administration, they warned that if those involved in the killing are not swiftly brought to justice, they will announce tougher movements if necessary.

A doa mahfil is scheduled to be held today at the Jhenaigati Upazila Stadium under the initiative of the district Jamaat.