Bhanga violence: Case filed against Nixon Chowdhury as prime accused

In protest against the inclusion of two unions of Bhanga upazila into Faridpur-2 constituency by excluding them from Faridpur-4, attacks and vandalism took place on Monday, September 15. In the incident, Bhanga upazila parishad, police station and several government buildings were vandalised. Finally, a case has been filed by the upazila administration over the attacks. In the case, former lawmaker of Faridpur-4 and central Jubo League presidium member Mujibur Rahman Nixon Chowdhury has been made the prime accused.

Second accused is Md Khokon Mia, chairman of Hamirdi Union Parishad, while the third accused is Nixon’s cousin, Monir Chowdhury—Chairman of Madaripur Zila Parishad and Vice-President of Madaripur District Awami League, hailing from Char Dattapara Mahalla in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur.

Soumendra Nath Sarker, shorthand typist-cum-computer operator of Bhanga upazila, filed the case. It named 27 individuals and several unidentified persons as accused. The case was recorded at Bhanga Police Station on September 19.

Police revealed the information on Sunday, September 21.

The complaint said, at the instructions of Nixon Chowdhury and his cousin Monir Chowdhury, announcements were made from mosque loudspeakers in Algi and Hamirdi unions to gather 8,000 to 9,000 people. Later, around 11:30am, they brought out a protest procession at Barishal Stand area of Bhanga Golchattar, and suddenly attacked on-duty police members.

With last Monday’s violence, Bhanga Police Station has so far registered three cases. Earlier, on September 16, Bhanga police filed a case, while on September 18, Bhanga Highway Police filed another.

In addition, before the violent incident, on Sunday, September 14, Bhanga police filed a case under the Speedy Trial Act naming 90 people including the chairmen of Algi and Hamirdi unions, referring to the incident of September 11. The day before that case, police arrested Algi UP Chairman M M Siddique and the following day filed the case under the Speedy Trial Act, showing him as the prime accused and sending him to jail through the court.