A heavy, suffocating silence hangs over the home of slain Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Shakil in Natore, where grief has rapidly turned into terror.
Following his brutal murder, Shakil’s family are living in constant panic, alleging that influential individuals have been issuing relentless threats against them.
Their anxiety deepened into overwhelming fear following the arrest of Nuruzzaman Mintu, son of local lawmaker Abdul Aziz, in connection with the murder case.
Following the arrest of this lawmaker’s son, the entire Gurudaspur area has become tense and quiet, as party activists, general citizens, and political opponents of Abdul Aziz remain afraid to break their silence regarding the incident.
Angry party activists and local residents expressed fury over the suspected involvement of Mintu in the killing.
They said a member of parliament takes an oath during elections to protect people’s lives, but is instead taking the lives of party activists. They demanded the resignation and trial of the lawmaker.
Threats from the ‘Chata Group’
Inside their modest home, Rabiul Mistri, father of the deceased Shakil, said he and his family are terrified and passing days in extreme anxiety over whether another family member will suffer the same tragic fate as Shakil.
He said individuals associated with the ‘Chata Group’ are issuing threats to him and his family.
“I have two sons. I lost one, and I do not want to lose the other. We are poor people without money or strong family support. Russel of the Chata Group has a lot of money and many followers. They are capable of doing anything,” he said.
His daughter, Shakila Khatun, sister of Shakil, echoed that profound distress, “We are very scared. I lost my brother. He was principled, but had no money. He had to die because he lived with self-respect.
“When Shakil was in hospital, my husband was by his side all the time. Shakil told him everything and could name the killers. We fear the killers might murder him out of that apprehension.”
Questioning TIMES, she asked, “Can anyone guarantee that no harm will come to the lives of my father, my other brother, or my husband?” She added that they cannot trust anyone now. “We do not know who belongs to the MP and who is an ordinary citizen.
“We are afraid to speak. That is why we want to avoid journalists as well. We are even suspicious of why people are offering to stand beside us.”
Banners snatched during high-profile visits
The tension spilled into the streets on Thursday when Rakibul Islam, central president of Chhatra Dal, visited Gurudaspur to extend condolences to Shakil’s family.
After offering prayers at Shakil’s grave, he said police informed them that US expatriate Russel was involved in the murder, adding that even the lawmaker’s son has been brought under the law.
On the same day, Farzana Sharmin Putul, state minister for social welfare, also visited the bereaved family, saying that no matter how influential the killers are, they will be brought under the law and tried.
Yet even high-profile condolences could not mask the pervasive climate of intimidation.
When the state minister for social welfare and the central president of Chhatra Dal visited Shakil’s house, aggrieved local residents gathered displaying banners and festoons reading “We want justice for Shakil’s killers” and “We want the resignation of MP Abdul Aziz.”
However, followers of Abdul Aziz snatched away those banners and festoons. Although the central president of Chhatra Dal and the state minister visited, Aziz did not go there.
Party activists said he refrained from visiting due to fear of public anger after his son’s name was linked to the murder. Observers noted that supporters of the lawmaker snatching banners demanding justice even in such a situation illustrates how much local people fear his armed group.
Intra-party feud and political fallout
Political figures across the region have weighed in on the shadow cast over the area. Zillur Rahman Babul Chowdhury, joint convener of Natore district BNP, said Shakil fell victim to an intra-party feud.
Saying that it would not be right to say too much from a responsible position, he claimed that the administration is working and will surely conduct a proper investigation to identify the real accused and bring them under the law.
Meanwhile, Md Asaduzzaman Asad, member secretary of Natore district BNP, said by arresting the MP’s son, the government has proven that under Tarique Rahman’s government, no one will be given any leeway in establishing the rule of law and a humane Bangladesh.
Civic and political observers stress that the fear extends far beyond one household.
Abdul Razzaq, president of Natore Aware Citizens Committee, said when the son of a ruling party member of parliament is arrested in a murder case, it is natural for the victim’s family to feel frightened and panicked.
However, as the victim was also a leader of the ruling party’s student wing, the party will surely consider their fear with gravity.
Taknim Shiplu, a BNP supporter, said not only the family of deceased Shakil, but the entire Gurudaspur and Baraigram upazilas have turned into a zone of panic, stressing that it is urgent to stop the way followers of the member of parliament are continuing to spread fear among the public.
Addressing these widespread fears, SM Riazul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Gurudaspur Police Station, said the family has not informed police about any threats. However, police will look into whether any threats exist and take necessary action.
If required, police protection will be provided to their family members.
