Pabna, Jan 14, (V7N) - Leaders and activists of BNP's Ishwardi Upazila and Municipality units have alleged that 32 political cases filed against them during the autocratic Hasina government were not registered in official records due to a conspiracy by certain leaders of Pabna District BNP. A protest and press conference were held on Monday (January 13) to address the issue.
 
The press conference, held at the Pabna Press Club auditorium at 2 PM, followed a protest march on Abdul Hamid Road in Pabna. Protesters demanded the removal and punishment of conspiratorial and manipulative leaders within the district BNP.
 
In a written statement, Fazlur Rahman, former acting general secretary of Ishwardi Municipal BNP, alleged that BNP activists in Ishwardi faced the highest number of cases and attacks during anti-government movements against the autocratic Hasina regime. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 due to a student-public uprising and the assumption of power by an interim government, BNP called for listing all political cases filed between 2009 and 2024 by the Hasina regime.
 
According to the statement, BNP central leadership instructed local leaders to provide a list of political cases against upazila and municipal leaders. Ishwardi BNP units prepared a list of 32 cases and submitted it to Pabna district BNP leaders. However, unlike other upazilas and municipalities in Pabna, the Ishwardi cases were not registered in court records.
 
The press conference accused Pabna District BNP Convener Habibur Rahman Habib and Member Secretary Advocate Masud Khondoker of conspiring to exclude the Ishwardi cases. When questioned, the accused leaders failed to provide satisfactory answers. Victimized BNP leaders demanded the intervention of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and other central leaders to address the issue.
 
Present at the press conference were former Ishwardi Upazila BNP Joint Convener Shamsuzzoha Pintu, former Organizing Secretary Humayun Kabir Dulal, former Ishwardi Municipality BNP Joint Convener Aminur Rahman Swapan, Anwar Hossain Johnny, former Organizing Secretary Islam Hossain Jewel, and Municipal Jubo Dal Convener Zakir Hossain Jewel, among others.
 
When contacted, Advocate Masud Khondoker, Member Secretary of Pabna District BNP, stated, "If the records were submitted, they should have been registered. If it was overlooked, we will review and ensure the cases are listed. There is no conspiracy here."
 
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