Magistrate forced to give firing order

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Several witnesses to Saturday’s carnage in Phulbari claim that the magistrate on duty did not want to give orders for firing on the demonstrators, rather the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel forced him to do so.
At gunpoint, Magistrate Abdul Aziz was compelled to order firing, they told journalists yesterday, three days after the incident that left at least five killed and over 200 injured.

Neither the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), magistrate or any of the BDR officials however agreed to comment on the issue.

“I saw some BDR men pointing gun at the magistrate and asking him to sign a paper they held before him,” said Sheikh Sohrab Ali Hira, an employee of Phulbari municipality.

Farmer Nurul Islam, electronics shopowner Mamun and many others who claim to have witnessed the incident, echoed the same.

“The magistrate was not willing to give permission for the law enforcers to fire on the demonstrators,” said Hira adding, “He was waiting to settle the matter amicably.”

But the BDR men flanked him and said, “Either you die, or sign the paper.” That’s how they pressured him into signing the paper, Hira observed.

As the killings followed immediately, he regretted his decision.

None of the witnesses said that the police had opened fire on the crowd.

Describing the August 26 incident, they said the BDR men barricaded either side of the bridge over Chhoto Jamuna, a stream, when a huge procession was heading for Asia Energy office.

“The demonstrators were not even close to the Asia Energy office,” said Shahadat Ali who took part in the procession. “We were barred at least one km off the office,” he said.

The procession stood there for some time while officials of the local administration were busy trying to convince the committee leaders not to advance any further.

A huge number of policemen were also deployed there then.

“Some from the back of the procession threw stones at the police, instigating the clash,” a law enforcer who was there at that time said in return for anonymity.

For nothing the BDR men shot tear shells at the crowd, inciting them to start stone throwing, said an agitator, Gulzar Hossain.

The firing took place when some of the protesters sought to take down the barricades, said Abu Zayeed Aziz, a freelance filmmaker who was shooting the incident.

“Even when the firing began, some did not believe it to be real and tried to move forward,” said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Hasan Sarwar.

Things spiralled out of control rapidly and soon it was absolute mayhem down the bridge and adjacent area, said the witnesses.

“They were shooting at almost everything between them and the bridge. Even those who were trying to help the bullet-hits weren’t spared,” said van-driver Joynal.

The BDR men shot Tariqul, a university student, who was standing under a tree as a mere onlooker, said Akbar adding, “I tried to drag him to a safer place, but they shot at me and forced me to leave him behind.”

“They [BDR] continued shooting more than two hours, chased us down to Nimtola crossing and later to our homes,” said Hira.

Following the incident, BDR men looted around 20 shops, alleged Lutfor Rahman, a shop owner in the locality.

Both Magistrate Abdul Aziz and the BDR officials declined to elaborate on the incident.

“We are now under a tremendous pressure from the government high-ups. We cannot disclose to you some things that took place on that day. Neither can we share those with the judicial probe committee,” said a top official of local administration.

“Please don’t press us for details. If we talk to you on this, we might end up losing our jobs,” he added.

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