PM calls for investigation into ‘real incident’ over Gaibandha MP’s ‘shooting’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for an investigation into the ‘real incident’ amid a public outcry over an alleged shooting by Gaibandha MP Manjurul Islam Liton that injured a schoolboy.

She dubbed Sundarganj, the place where the shooting took place, a “Jamaat-e-Islami dominated” area.

At a media call on Sunday a day after return from the US, she said her government neither ‘conceals’ any incident nor ‘tolerates’ wrongdoings.

Shahadat Hossain Sourav, 9, was injured when MP Liton allegedly opened fire at Gopalcharan on Friday morning.

The child’s father lodged a police complaint against Liton, the Gaibandha-1 MP and Sundarganj Upazila Awami League unit president.

Hasina said a process was on to cancel Liton’s firearm licence.

The MP’s brother-in-law handed over a pistol, a shotgun and bullets to the police station on Saturday evening.

Earlier, Gaibndha’s Superintendent of Police Md Ashraful Alam told reporters that steps had been taken to take back the MP’s weapons.

“Gaibandha’s Sundarganj is a Jamaat-dominated area,” Hasina said. “Everyone knows about Jamaat’s disturbances there.”

Locals allege Liton often gets drunk and returns home early in the morning. On Friday morning, too, he was said to be drunk when he opened fire.

A local Awami League leader led a demonstration by the local people that day demanding Liton’s punishment.

“We’re taking action,” the prime minister said, adding, “The real incident has to be investigated.”