The victims, most of whom introduced themselves as workers and supporters of the ruling BNP and its front organisations, asked the BNP high command to immediately expel Shahidul from the party to prevent decreasing popularity of the party in Bheramara-Mirpur region of Kushtia district.

The aggrieved Kushtia people, aged between 15 and 85 years, formed the human chain on the road in front of the National Press Club at 11:30am and stayed there for two hours protesting against Shahidul's torture, extortion, looting and corruption.

"The MP, who is also chairman of Bheramara Ideal College committee, demanded Tk 1 lakh from me as donation. As I failed to pay, he, in connivance with the principal of the college, stopped the payment of salaries to me and eight other teachers thrice and later forced us to sign in a resignation letter on September 21, 2002," MA Rafiq, an assistant professor of the college, said.

Prof Khondoker Ismail Hossain, who was a candidate during appointment of the principal of Poradoho College, said, "Shahidul demanded Tk 5 lakh from me. Following my refusal to pay, I received a letter that asked me to sit in the test but the letter carried a wrong address of the test venue."

Former headmaster of Halsha Government Primary School, Daud Ali, 75, has been fleeing his home since Shahidul filed a theft case against him, his five sons, three nephews and one grandson following his protest against Shahidul's policy of 'looting and torture'.

Saad Ahmed, 55, a member of Bamungari Jame Mosque managing committee, said the committee had to pay Shahidul Tk 5 lakh from Tk 15 lakh government allocated fund for development of the mosque as the MP threatened that he will block the release of funds in the future.

"As I declined to pay the MP Tk 1 lakh bribe, his men abducted me. They shot and stabbed me in an attempt to kill but I luckily survived," Fazlul Haq, president of Ambari Union Parishad (UP) unit of Krishak Dal, farmers' wing of BNP.

Shahidul's cadres forced Vice President of Mirpur Upazila Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal Abdul Malek Jihadi, 50, activist Abdul Kader of Kakolidaho village, Nurul Islam Montu, 50, of Kursha and Jubo Dal activist Hasimul Islam Shanto, 28, of Gopinathpur, to flee their houses.

Former Ambaria UP chairman Mofiz, 80, and Poradaho UP BNP's organising secretary Siddiqur Rahman now cannot live with their families as Shahidul filed a case after they criticised Shahidul's activities.

"As my son Milon, a JCD leader, protested Shahidul's torture, the MP got him killed. Now he is harassing me," said Tajubbar Mondol, 85, vice president of Mirpur upazila BNP.

"When I protested Shaihidul's looting, torture and corruption, he ousted me from my area and threatened to kill me in crossfire," said Abu Nuruddin, a JCD leader who was elected vice-president of Bheramara Degree College students union.

Meanwhile, Shahidul Islam in a statement said the allegations against him are false while the people who formed the human chain are not leaders or activists of BNP.

A garment trader, who wants to get BNP's nomination from the area, has arranged the show in connivance with Awami League, the lawmaker added.