Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, secretary-general of the Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajote, has alleged that, from the very beginning, attempts have been made at the highest levels of the administration to cover up the murder of four members of a family in Rangpur by placing the blame on the Hindu community.
He said that if the “actual perpetrators” are not arrested within 24 hours, the Hindu Mahajote will hold protest programmes across the country next Friday.
Pramanik made the remarks at a human chain and protest rally organised under the banner, “Protesting the brutal killing of Ganapati Chakraborty and all members of his family in Rangpur and demanding the arrest of the actual perpetrators.” The Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajote organised the programme in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday morning. During the human chain, the organisation also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed.
On the night of August 22, police recovered the bodies of retired Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, 65, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty, 50, daughter Agami Chakraborty, 25, and son Ayush Chakraborty, 13, from a house in the Kamalkachna area of Rangpur city.
Two young men, Siddhartha Das, 19, and Mugdha Das, 23, have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the killings.
At the human chain, Gobinda Pramanik alleged that attempts were being made to cover up the entire incident. “Let us assume that the two arrested suspects committed the killings. But the possibility that others may have been involved is not being properly considered,” he said.
He further alleged that unfamiliar people on different motorcycles had been waiting, patrolling and conducting reconnaissance around the house from the evening before the incident until noon the following day. “The police are not paying attention to these matters. Instead, they are trying to put the entire blame on those two people and cover up the whole incident,” he said.
Pramanik said that those who were “overly eager” to suppress the matter should be removed from their positions and questioned. “The investigation must find out whose instructions and whose words led them to try to cover up the incident,” he said.
Referring to the involvement of members of the Hindu community in the investigation, Pramanik alleged, “From the highest levels of the administration, there has been an attempt from the very beginning to put the blame on Hindus and use Hindus to cover up the matter. These Hindu officials must be immediately removed from the investigation.”
Regarding a claim that the shirt worn by one of the arrested suspects matched that of a police officer, Pramanik said the suspect’s father had stated that his son was not wearing that shirt when police took him from their home. “He was wearing a vest at the time,” he said.
“Considering everything, people have become suspicious of the role being played by the police,” Pramanik said. He also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, holding him responsible for what he described as the authorities’ failure.
Addressing the government and the prime minister, Gobinda Pramanik said, “We urge you to ensure a proper investigation into this incident. Those responsible must be identified and brought to justice. The people of this country will not accept any concealment or attempt to cover up the truth.”
The human chain and protest rally was chaired by Hindu Mahajote president Dinabandhu Roy. Student Mahajote president Sajib Kundu moderated the programme. The organisation’s executive president, Pradip Kumar Pal, among others, also spoke at the event.
