Death of former Chhatra League leader in lynching in Rajshahi

Former leader of Rajshahi University (Rabi) Chhatra League, Abdullah Al Masud, died in a thrashing due to the attack on the student movement. He was attacked on Saturday night (September 7) in Binodpur Bazar adjacent to Rajshahi University. Later he was handed over to the police station with serious injuries. After being taken to the hospital, he died around 12:30 pm.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Boalia police station in the city, SM Masud Parvez, confirmed the matter. He told the media that on August 5, Masud was attacked in Binodpur Bazar at night on the charge of attacking students. Later, a group of students took him first to Motihar police station. But there is no case of August 5 violence in Motihar police station. So he was brought to Boalia police station, as if he was arrested in a case of violence.

OC said, Masud was seriously injured in the gang beating. Seeing his physical condition, he was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with the help of the army. He died there. Now if the family wants, legal action will be taken in this regard.

Rajshahi Medical College Hospital spokesperson Shankar Kumar Biswas confirmed the death of Masud. He said that the cause of Masood's death will be known after the post-mortem.

Abdullah Al Masood is the former co-editor of Rajshahi University Chhatra League and former member of the central committee. He was a resident of Budhpara in the city. On the morning of April 29, 2014, Abdullah Al Masood was attacked in front of Zia Hall of Rajshahi University on his way to class. At this time, the lower part of Masud's right leg was separated from the ankle. The left leg was severely damaged. The vein in his hand was severed.

Masood lost his leg in that attack and used to walk with a plastic leg. His other leg was broken on Saturday night. A video of Masud's speech after he was brought to Boalia police station in an injured state has gone viral on social media.

While lying in Boalia police station, Masud was seen saying, 'I came to Binodpur to take medicine, brother. I used to do Chhatra League because of that. But my leg was amputated in 2014 bro. Ragtag all cut brother. I have stopped playing Chhatra League a long time ago, brother.'

Salahuddin Ammar, one of the coordinators of Rajshahi University's anti-discrimination student movement, was at Boalia police station when Masood was brought. On August 5, he arrested two youths and brought them to the police station on the charge of raping and killing a student. He also saw Masud at the police station.

When asked about the death of Masud, Salahuddin Ammar told the media on Sunday morning, “We were busy with the two people we took away.” Meanwhile, I saw a wounded person being brought. But I did not know who brought him. I just heard that Chhatra League workers have been caught, as they are being caught in different places.' He also said that Salahuddin Masood was brought inside so that no one would be killed. Apart from this he does not know anything else. He did not know that the person was Masood.

According to Rajshahi University sources, Abdullah Al Masood wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the end of 2022 asking for a job after being unemployed for a long time. Then on December 6 of that year, Director-7 of the Prime Minister's Office, Mir Tafeya Siddika, sent a letter to the Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University asking him to appoint Abdullah Al Masood as the Section Officer of the University.

In view of the letter from the Prime Minister's office, on December 20, 2022, the university authorities appointed Abdullah Al Masood as a store officer in the medical center of Rajshahi University. He joined the service on December 22 after receiving the appointment letter. Since then he was working in this position. Masud became the father of a girl on September 3.

On Saturday, Masud posted the photo of the newborn baby on Facebook and wrote, 'Alhamdulillah. All praise be to Allah Almighty. I became the father of a daughter on 3-9-2024. I pray to Almighty Allah for good health and good life. Requesting prayers for me and my daughter from all relatives, well wishers and friends.'

Source: Prothom Alo

Bangladesh /RH