Shop owners’ association president beaten on allegation of Awami League involvement

Allegation has been raised against BNP leaders and activists of beating a president of the shop owners’ association in Narayanganj city raising the allegation of Awami League involvement. A video of this incident has spread on social media.

The incident occurred at ‘Haimun Cosmetics’ shop on the ground floor of Sayam Plaza in Chashara of the city around 10pm on Saturday.

The victim of the beating Hasan Imam, 70, is a resident of Chashara. He is the vice-president of Narayanganj District Shop Owners’ Association and president of Sayam Plaza Shop Owners’ Association.

In the video that has spread a group of youths led by Member Secretary of Narayanganj Metropolitan BNP Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu are seen entering the shop. There Hasan Imam is seen being slapped and punched.

Hasan’s younger brother Md Juel was present at the shop at the time of the incident. He said more than fifty BNP leaders and activists led by Tipu came to the shop. Later Tipu and the leaders and activists with him beat Hasan inside the shop raising the allegation of involvement with Awami League.

Juel said, ‘My elder brother is the president of the shop owners’ association. He is not a direct activist or leader of any political party. He has been beaten raising false allegation.’

Hasan’s son Haimun Hasan informed that Hasan Imam fell ill at night after the beating. He said, ‘My elderly father has been given many slaps, punches and fists. Around 3am he suddenly started vomiting a lot.’

Hasan was taken to a hospital in the capital at night in an unwell condition. Haimun informed that he was brought home in the morning after his physical condition improved a bit. They are also thinking of taking legal steps over this incident.

However BNP leader Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu claimed that although Hasan is not directly in any committee of Awami League he is a financier of the organisation whose political activities have been banned. He also alleged that Hasan has financed the processions held under the banner of Awami League recently.

Members of Hasan Imam’s family have denied all these allegations of the BNP leader.

Regarding the beating Tipu said, ‘Hasan is a man of Azmeri Osman and Shah Nizam. He has done many misdeeds in the past days. On the day of August 5, 2024 also he stayed with the Osman family and attacked the protesters.’

He further said, ‘He has also funded for organising another procession like Gulshan in Narayanganj. Getting such news I and several people with me went to the shop. There it is true that a few people slapped and punched him out of excitement. But I myself stopped them again.’

OC of Narayanganj Sadar Model police station Sajedur Rahman informed that he has seen the video of the beating incident on social media. He said no one has filed any oral or written complaint at the police station over this incident.

The OC said, ‘If anyone files a written complaint in this regard subsequent legal measures will be taken after consulting the higher authorities.’