SM Humayun Kabir, Cox’s Bazar

Harun Taher, 76, was leaving the Maijpara Jame Mosque in Kalamar Chhara, Maheshkhali Upazila, Cox’s Bazar after offering prayers. At that moment, a young man came running and told him that a case had been filed against him at Pekua Police Station. Although shocked, he remained calm and said, “How can I commit an incident like occupying a salt field at my age? I was 12 kilometers away in the mosque premises at the time of the incident. The truth will be found only if my phone location and call list are checked.”

Harun Taher and his eldest son Mustafa Kamal have been named as accused in two cases filed in connection with a fight that took place at the Lomba Ghona salt field in Karidiya Mouza of Pekua Upazila of Cox’s Bazar on January 18. The plaintiff in one case is Waz Uddin Mahmud and the plaintiff in the other is Jasim Uddin Sarkar. However, there are allegations of conflicting information between the incident and the case and the involvement of innocent people without any investigation.

Two cases in the same incident, targeting the same family:
The first case was filed with Pekua Police Station on January 19 (case number 10). The second case was filed on January 20 (case number 11). The first case states that the incident took place on January 8 at 2 pm. On the other hand, the second case states that the incident took place on January 18 at 3 pm. Although the details of the two cases are different, the names of Harun Taher and his son Mustafa Kamal are listed as accused. Harun Taher is the father of Erfan Hossain, the Cox’s Bazar district correspondent of Daily Purbakon and the national daily Bhorer Darpan and the Chittagong bureau chief of BD News.
It is learnt that the journalist has already submitted a written application to the District Superintendent of Police, Deputy Commissioner, DIG and IGP on behalf of the victim’s family, seeking a fair investigation.

Mustafa Kamal said that he received 2 lakh taka from a person named Abul Hossain, a resident of Maheshkhali, for business purposes. Abul Hossain gave him a check, but after depositing it in the bank, it was found that there was no money. He sent a legal notice against Abul Hossain to collect the dues. Since then, Abul Hossain has been harassing him and his family in various ways. Abul Hossain is related to the plaintiffs in the two Pekua cases, which makes the matter of vindictive attitude clear.

‘We were in the mosque, yet we were accused in the case!’
Local resident Maulana Farid Ahmed said, “We were in the mosque courtyard during the incident mentioned in the case. But how can an old woman and her child go 12 kilometers away and become the accused of such an incident? This is very unfortunate and planned.”

Lawyers’ response:
“Involving innocent people in cases without investigation means taking the case lightly. Filing cases without proper investigation reduces trust in the judiciary,” said Sejan Ehsan, a Supreme Court lawyer and district president of the Bangladesh Human Rights Forum.

Advocate Manjurul Haque said, “It is illegal to accuse someone without an investigation. This is not only a violation of the constitution, but also a crime.”

Police statement:
Pekua Police Station OC Sirajul Mustafa said, “When a case report is received, there is no time to verify whether the accused is guilty or innocent. However, innocent people will be excluded through investigation.”

Cox’s Bazar Police Superintendent Rahmat Ullah expressed regret over the incident and said, “It is very unfortunate that innocent people are involved in the case. I have instructed the concerned police station to uncover the real truth through investigation and have asked them to look seriously into excluding innocent people after the investigation.”

Locals demand that families who have been harassed through false cases be provided with immediate legal assistance and their dignity be restored.