A court in Satkhira on Thursday placed Juba Dal leader Sadikul Islam Bhadu on a three-day remand over the beating death of Waheduzzaman Sana alias Shamim in Debhata upazila following allegations of hurting religious sentiments.
Nusrat Jahan, judge of Satkhira Cognisance Court No 3, passed the order following a hearing. Sub-inspector of Debhata Police Station, Al Amin, an investigating officer, had applied for a five-day remand to interrogate Bhadu.
The accused, Bhadu, is the son of Shawkat Ali of Parulia Shekhpara in Debhata upazila. He is the member secretary of Parulia Union Juba Dal.
Bhadu, the number two accused in the case, surrendered before the court on October 28 and applied for bail. But the court rejected the bail application and sent him to jail. Later, on November 1, a five-day remand application was submitted to question him. Following the hearing on Thursday, the court granted a three-day remand, according to Al Amin.
Bhadu will be taken to the police station for questioning after receiving the court order. The judge directed the police to produce him before the court by 12pm on November 8 after completing the interrogation.
Asaduzzaman Dilu, senior lawyer at Satkhira Judges’ Court, represented Bhadu during the remand hearing, while court sub-inspector Bishwanath Roy and lawyer Abu Sayeed appeared for the prosecution.
Speaking on the court premises, Bhadu said he was present with the marchers but did not beat Shamim. He also introduced himself as a Juba Dal leader.
Allegations of hurting religious sentiments were raised against Shamim based on call recordings captured on the mobile phones of neighbour Abul Kashem’s daughter Moslema, son Hossen Ali, and local resident Masud, according to the case statement.
Based on these allegations, a crowd attacked Shamim’s house from outside a local Jamaat office on the evening of October 12. On the evening of October 13, he was attacked while undergoing treatment at Kulia MA Sabur Clinic.
On the same day, a group of people brought out a procession from Parulia, broke open the back door of Sakhipur Hospital, and forced their way inside. In the presence of police, Ansar personnel, and the duty doctor, they tortured Shamim while he was undergoing treatment. At one stage, he died.
Following the incident, the deceased’s brother, Abdul Jalil, filed a murder case as plaintiff with Debhata Police Station on October 15. The case named 10 people, including Fazlul Hoque Amini, Sadikul Islam Bhadu, Moktar Khan, and Asadul Mulla, alongside 250 unidentified individuals.
Earlier, police arrested Moktar Khan on the night of October 15, Asadul Mulla on the morning of October 16, and principal accused Fazlul Haque Amini on October 17. Amini also gave a confessional statement in court. With this, four accused in the case, including Bhadu, are currently in jail.
