Gaibandha Awami League leaders recount several ‘misdeeds’ of party MP Liton

Awami League MP Manjurul Islam Liton, under fire for allegedly shooting a nine-year-old boy in Gaibandha’s Sundarganj Upazila, has been criticised by his own party leaders for his “controversial activities”.

Gaibandha CorrespondentTajul Islam Reza, bdnews24.com
Published : 3 Oct 2015, 07:31 PM
Updated : 3 Oct 2015, 08:48 PM

They have alleged that the lawmaker was also involved in many ‘nefarious acts’ in the past.
 
“MP Liton got involved in many awkward incidents after getting drunk. But he hasn’t faced any organisational or legal actions yet for these incidents,” said Sundarganj Municipal Mayor Abdullah Al Mamun.
 
The former president of the Upazila’s Bangladesh Chhatra League unit also said, “That’s why he (Liton) is becoming more reckless day by day.”
 
Several other local leaders of the ruling party and its affiliate organisations made similar allegations and said his activities were tarnishing the party’s image.
 
They also said the Sundarganj Upazila Awami League (AL) unit president should be punished for his misdemeanours.
 

Sourav is curently undergoing treatment at the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital.

Fourth grader Shahadat Hossain Sourav was taking a morning walk with his uncle Shahjahan Ali on Friday when Liton allegedly opened fire while returning home in Bamandanga, family members said.
 
The Gaibandha-1 MP stopped his car at the town’s BRAC Intersection in Gopalcharan area and told Shahjahan to get into his car.
 
Shahjahan said as he panicked and ran Liton became agitated and opened fire. Sourav was hit by bullets on his legs.
 
Saju Mia, father of the boy who is undergoing treatment at the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital, filed a case against Liton at the Sundarganj Police Station on Saturday.
 
Recounting some of the misconducts of the MP, local AL leaders alleged that Liton had in the past assaulted magistrates, tried to violate a female dancer of a jatra troupe, beat a school teacher with sandals and attempted to shoot a man at a local hospital.

Sundarganj AL Unit Joint General Secretary Golam Mostofa Babul said, “On May 25 last year, the MP assaulted Executive Magistrates Mejbah Ahmed and Sharif Ahmed when they went to shut down a circus that featured indecent dance routines at Bamandanga’s Abdul Haque College ground.”

In the same month, Liton at a jatra at Kalitola Bazar tried to abuse a female dancer by dragging her down from the stage during a play. The jatra committee rescued the dancer from him, said Babul.

He said that the lawmaker after entering the Sundarganj Upazila Health Complex early in the morning on May 22 aimed a pistol at ward boy ‘Mamun’ threatening to shoot him from point-blank. Mamun managed to run away.

The following day, he entered the same hospital nearly at the same time and started shooting in the air. “He was drunk on both occasions,” Babul added.

AL leaders further alleged that Liton beat Ramdev High School’s Headmaster Zahir Uddin with a sandal on July 5 following a dispute over issues related to school management committee.

On June 19, he got physical during a scuffle with Upazila Freedom Fighter Commander Emdadul Haque Bablu.

The local Muktijoddha Sangsad unit had demonstrated over the incident for several days.

It was also alleged that some people at the behest of Liton had recently assaulted Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samity-1 DGM Abdul Halim and Sonali Bank Ltd’s Sundarganj branch Manager Abdul Qader.

Upazila Awami Swechchasebak League unit’s President Golam Kabir Mukul said, “MP Liton had also opened fire targetting former Upazila Executive Officer Abu Rafa Md Arif after the latter refused to follow his order.”

“Arif, who escaped unhurt, was transferred to another place after the incident,” he said.

Sundarganj AL unit Organising Secretary Sajedul Islam said, “Liton sleeps during the day. Then he gets drunk and roams around in his SUV at night.”

“He visits places in the Upazila and keeps insulting people in inebriated condition. Not just general people, he also insults local government officials and uses obscene language.”

Gaibandha’s Superintendent of Police Md Ashraful Alam said there had been allegations that the MP used firearms in carrying out illegal activities and to create mass panic.

“Police received many complaints about him creating panic by firing shots from his licensed pistol and shotgun on several occasions without any provocation,” he told bdnews24.com.

After Sourav got shot on Friday, police started the process to get the firearms back from the lawmaker.

Liton’s brother-in-law Tariqul Islam on Saturday evening submitted the former’s pistol, shotgun and ammunitions to the Sundarganj Police Station, OC Ismail Hossain said.