Former state minister Omor Faruk sued in Rajshahi over firing on students, ballot-stuffing

Two cases have been filed with Godagari Police Station in Rajshahi against former state minister for industries Omor Faruk Chowdhury and over 100 leaders and activists of Awami League.

One of the cases was filed in connection with firing on students in Rajshahi on 5 August and the other was filed over allegations of stuffing ballot boxes during the 2018 national elections, Godagari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ataur Rahman told The Business Standard.

The first case was filed by Godagari BNP activist Abdul Hamid Bablu and the second by Laskarhati resident Tasikul Islam, the OC added.

According to the first case’s statement, on the orders of Omor Faruk, AL men fired shots at protesting students at the Daingpara intersection area of Sadar upazila on 5 August. Several students were injured in the incident. 

Apart from Omor Faruk, 43 people from AL and associate organisations have been named in the case. More than a hundred unknown AL activists were also accused.

In the second case, Omor Faruk and 21 others were accused of illegally sealing ballots and stuffing ballot boxes during the 11th national elections in Laskarhati constituency on 30 December 2018. 

About 50-60 unnamed people were also accused.