BDR major closed for 'excesses' during Khulna joint drive
Staff Correspondent, Khulna
A Major of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has been closed to the Khulna sector headquarters for alleged excesses at Khalishpur Nayabati in Khulna on Saturday in the name of the anti-outlaw joint operation. Locals alleged that a team of the joint forces led by Major Nizam ransacked the 'Shaikh Bari' in the name of search, beat up Major Shabbir Ahmed Tapash, who was on leave, dragged elderly women out of their bedrooms and injured many others in a four-hour frenzy. BDR sector headquarters sources hinted that punitive actions would be taken against the officer after investigation. It was, however, not clear whether the members of the team who acted under the orders of the officer will face similar punishment. An officer of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in Dhaka last night said the authorities were aware of the 'untoward incident' in Khulna. "High officials are investigating the incident and will take steps (against the major) accordingly at the local level," he said, requesting anonymity. Locals say the team swooped on the area at about 8:00am without any specific information and ransacked the furniture and other valuables of the Shaikh Bari. As Major Shabbir protested against such an unruly behaviour, they clubbed him severely although he showed his identity card. They clubbed Rizia Begum, 105, and Rokeya Begum, 60, dragging them out of their house. They are now undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Monir, Anwar, Selim and Badal, sons of Rokeya, were also injured in the incident. Twenty-six people including the four sons of Rokeya Begum were picked up from that area and later handed over to the Khalishpur Police Station. Major Shabbir refused to make any comment on the incident. The Khulna sector BDR commander, chief of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence of Khulna and local police commissioner rushed to the scene on hearing the news. They held a closed-door meeting at the Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills rest house at Khalishpur to discuss the situation. On the same day, three people were beaten up by the joint forces in another incident at the Sonadanga Police Station. The injured were admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital with injuries. Police and witnesses said an officer of the BDR went to the police station and asked Phul Mia, Faruque and Laltu to accompany him to the Sonadanga bus terminal to help arrest criminals and extortionists. As they refused his request, the officer beat them up savagely.
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