Rangunia Awami League leaders among 26 named in inquiry into attack on Fakhrul’s convoy

The complainant says the court will consider the investigation report before issuing warrants against the absconding suspects

Police have submitted an investigation report against 26 individuals over the attack on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s motorcade at Rangunia’s Ichakhali Bazar in Chattogram nine years ago.

The report was submitted on Tuesday at the Judicial Magistrates’ Court in Chattogram by Rangunia Police.

The report names leaders and activists of Rangunia Upazila Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League as suspects.

Earlier, on Jan 11, the court had urged a speedy submission of the report.

Mohammad Enamul Haque, former president of the Chattogram District Bar Association and complainant in the case, told bdnews24.com: “The court will hold a hearing on accepting the report on the next scheduled date.

“Once accepted, arrest warrants will be issued against all suspects since they are absconding.”

The suspects include Rangunia Jubo League President Shamsuzzoha Sikder, General Secretary Md Yunus, Upazila Chhatra League General Secretary Shimul Gupta, Chattogram North District Chhatra League General Secretary Abu Tayeb, and Rangunia Upazila Awami League Organising Secretary Jahangir Alam.

The attack occurred on Jun 18, 2007, when Fakhrul and other BNP leaders were travelling to Rangamati to express solidarity with victims of a landslide. Their convoy came under attack in Ichakhali Bazar.

On that day, senior BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury blamed then-Rangunia MP Hasan Mahmud for the attack, while Hasan later suggested internal BNP disputes may have been a factor.

The case was filed on Jun 22, 2017, by BNP-aligned lawyer and former Chattogram District Bar Association secretary Enamul Hoque.