FROM PAGE 12

leaders and activists of AL, whose political activities are now banned.

Rabiul Hasan Rabbi, a resident of Bholakot union, lodged the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Ramganj Police Station on Monday night, said Officer-in-Charge Firoz Uddin Chowdhury.

Talking to this correspondent, Tuhin Malik, an accused in the case, said he was in jail during the incident but was still named in the case.

“I was arrested on June 3 in a case filed in Dhaka and was released on bail on June 17. Being named in an incident that occurred on June 16 is unfortunate,” he said, adding that jail records could verify his claim.

Tuhin said that he is a trader from Kochukhet, Dhaka, and claimed that he is not involved in politics. “I have been falsely implicated and tagged as an Awami League supporter.”

Police and locals said Rabbi, who had been associated with Chhatra Dal, the pro-BNP student organisation, filed the case over the vandalism.

The Daily Star tried to contact Rabbi, but he did not respond to calls.

Efforts to reach former AL MP Anwar by phone were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off.

The vandalism at Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan Academy occurred following the recovery of the body of Mehedi Hasan, a 14-year-old eighth-grader, from the school dormitory.

After allegations of murder spread, agitated locals attacked, vandalised, and set fire to the institution between 11:00pm and 2:00am that night.

On information, the local upazila nirbahi officer and Ramganj police brought the situation under control.

On June 18, the victim’s father, Zia Uddin, filed a murder case. The case statement stated that Mehedi was subjected to severe physical and mental torture over false allegations of phone theft, which led to his death. The case names eight accused and leaves nine to 10 others unidentified.

Ramganj police later arrested Shariful Islam, vice-principal of the institution and the dormitory supervisor, and Sajidul Islam, a 19-year-old student of the institution, in connection with the case.

According to the vandalism case statement, the accused gathered in front of the institution on June 16, chanting the slogan “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu”. When the complainant and witnesses arrived at the scene, they were attacked and injured by the accused, who also vandalised the institution.

The statement added that cashing in on public outrage over the student’s death, the accused launched a planned attack, vandalised property, and committed arson, creating a reign of terror, damaging institutional infrastructure, and worsening the local law-and-order situation.

Contacted, OC Firoz Uddin said the accused’s involvement would be investigated. “If any individual’s claim of being elsewhere or in prison during the incident is proven true, appropriate legal action will be taken.”