BNP leader loses father to blockade violence, says he is done with the party

A pro-BNP leader has lost his father in violence unleashed by the party during its ongoing nationwide blockade.

Nilphamari CorrespondentBijoy Chakrabarty Kajol, bdnews24.com
Published : 27 Jan 2015, 05:25 PM
Updated : 27 Jan 2015, 06:46 PM

Abdul Matin, chairman of Jatiyatabadi Matsyajibi Dal unit in Nilphamari Sadar (Lakshmichap Union) is furious with his party now.

The Matysajibi Dal is a BNP affiliate of fishermen.

His father Abdul Malek, 55, a resident of Barhagacha Baniaparha village, died of burns suffered from a petrol bomb attack. The village is under Lakshmichap Union where Matin is a BNP leader.

Malek suffered severe burns when the truck he was travelling in on his way back from the Biswa Ijtema congregation at Tongi was fire-bombed by blockade supporters on Jan 21.

After battling for life for six days, Malek succumbed to his burns on Monday at the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital.

The transport blockade, enforced by the BNP and its allies, which started on Jan 5, has led to at least 36 deaths, most of them for burns sustained in arson attacks on transport.

More than 200 others have also suffered burns and injuries, some serious.

"I have nothing to do with the BNP anymore. My own party has taken away my father from me," Matin said.

"I don't want this violent politics anymore. I want all responsible for this violence punished."

Matin's sister Majeda Khatun, 28, was equally candid.

"We have lost our father. Many other families are losing their near and dear ones too. We want an end to this politics."

"We were a happy family with three sons and two daughters, but my husband's death has brought an end to our happy days," said Malek's wife Mamata Begum.

The sons were small traders but the family's three bighas land was their main earning source, she said.

The elder daughter had been married off but the younger one was a local school teacher.

All in all, a happy family rocked and traumatised by mindless violence directed at innocents.