Victim of Shanta Group’s wrath !

BACK FROM ASHULIA: Doubts galore on Shanta Group of Dhaka EPZ garments industry for the killing of much-talked-about labour leader Aminul Islam.

Locals, family and colleagues suspect that Aminul became the victim of Shanta Group’s wrath when he went to mediate the labour unrest of this unit. The investigation of the case is also heading towards that end following the clue.

It is learnt that Khandakar Maniruddin, owner of Shanta Group warned Aminul for his role in favour of the agitated workers. And the colleagues and family members are keen to find a link between Aminul’s killing and the agitation at Shanta Group.

The investigation of Banglanews found some connections with the incidents of those happened at the end of March of this year in the backdrop of the complaints and claim.

Aminul killing has a direct impact on country’s main export earning RMG sector as the USA, one of the major importers of RMG products from Bangladesh, has taken the issue seriously. US foreign secretary Hilary Clinton, during her recent visit to Bangladesh, talked about the issue with the government and concerned bodies and expressed their desire to find out Aminul’s killers and bring them under trial.

Locals and a number of Aminul’s colleague informed Banglanews that the issue started on March 22 of this year centering the final match of Asia Cup cricket tournament. The Shanta Group authority refused to shut the factory for a day when a group of labours demanded holiday for enjoying the final match. That led to labour unrest on that day.  

Aminul’s colleague and member of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Federation Laboni Akhtar told Banglanews, on April 4 Aminul had talks with the workers of that factory before his disappearance.

At that time he talked to an officer of EPZ over his cell phone. Later he informed the workers that the factory might be opened the next day. There will be no problem. Let the factory run and problems will be solved through discussion.

Narrating the incident Laboni Akhtar further informed that after the workers of Shanta group left, Mostafij, a worker of Queens South factory pointing to a ‘borka’ clad woman said, ‘ She has come to marry me fleeing from his home’. Aminul at the request of Mostafiz reluctantly agreed to arrange their marriage at Zirani bajar marriage register’s office. At 7 P.M. in evening they moved by two rickswas. Aminul became disappeared from then.

After the recovery of the body of Aminul, there is no trace of Mostafij. His cell phone is also found closed, said Laboni.  

A number of Shanta group’s workers with the condition of anonymity informed that the labour unrest occurred at the instigation of some mid-level officers of the factory. The ownership transfer process of that factory owned jointly by Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia was going on. For this reason some officers created a crisis to sound their presence. Aminul became a hurdle for them.

Industrial police super Golam Rouf Khan informed that there might be some connections of Aminul’s killing with that incident of Shanta group. Aminul was disappeared on that day when the unrest in that factory got its peak.

Meanwhile, a change has been made in the investigation team. At first DB S.I. Dulal was in charge of investigation. Tangail DB police officer- in- charge Humayun Kabir is the present chief of investigation team. Though the case was with Ghatail police station of Tangail district it was later transferred to DB.

The present IO Humayun Kabir firmly told Banglanews, ‘ if Mostafiz could be caught the mystery of murder would be unearthed.’

He informed, after getting the charge of the case he carried on raids at different places for seven days. But for the sake of investigation that DB official did not agree to comment on it.  

The body of Aminul was recovered after his disappearance on April 4. But till now there is no visible progress of the investigation. Aminul’s family is very much frustrated at this. They told that they have left the hope of justice.

Aminul’s wife Hosneara Begum Fahima claimed that whoever has killed him, police is definitely involved in the incident. When asked about the latest position of the case Fahima informed that they are disappointed. Now we do not ask for anything. Police also does not contact me now.

On the other hand, Aminul’s family also doubts the role of an Intelligence department. That Intelligence department had forcibly taken Aminul to their office on June 18 of 2010 from Bijoynagar.
At that time torturing on him caused his thumb bruised and injury to right ear. Then he was put in a Mymenshing bound bus but Aminul managed to flee from the bus tactfully.  

The injury found on his dead body and the injury due to torture of June 18 of 2010 is almost alike.

The additional injury mark this time on his body was two holes below the knee of Aminul. Aminul’s wife claimed that the same group of people this time tortured him to death.

First IO S.I Dulal confirmed Banglanews about the injury marks on the body.

Among the suspects long time associate Mostafij is the key suspects whom the family of Aminul also claims to be an agent of that Intelligence department.

They told that they have authentic information that the suspected officer of the Intelligence department had talks for one hundred minutes with Mostafiz. That colleague of Aminul informed, that officer of the Intelligence department often threatened him.

When asked about the differences of Aminul with that officer, his colleagues informed that there was labour unrest at Convoy group factory at Jamgara in 2010. When Aminul took an initiative to resolve the unrest problem, that officer warned him not to poke his nose in the affair.

Still Aminul went to Bijoynagar office of Labour Directorate in connection with the problem. On that day he was picked up by the Intelligence officials from the gate of the labour Directorate. The differences began from there.

One colleague of Aminul informed that DB police has identified four alleged killers of Aminul but they don’t have the capacity to catch them.

A colleague of Aminul claimed fugitive Mostafiz was the paid source of that Intelligence agency and he is in their shelter now. But DB investigation officer claimed that they are also in search of Mostafiz.

On the other hand another source told that the case has been included in the list of the sensational cases of Home Ministry.

Aminul’s daughter Saima Akhtar Ankhi informed that the case has no progress though it has been transferred DB. IGP of police along with other few officials visited their home on last May 2. Next none had gone there.

Ankhi claimed that despite their assurances there is no progress.  
Some more information about Mostafiz:

Workers of this garment belt informed that Mostafiz finally had been working as a source in the EPZ area though earlier he was a worker.

Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers’ Federation organizer Laboni informed Banglanews, his(Mostafiz) movement was suspicious and often used to come to their office having no visible business.

Laboni told, when one day he was asked, ‘you pass whole day here, when you work? In reply Mostafiz had told that he works in night though he had no sign of weary of night duty on his appearance.’

Another source claimed, a Maxi owned by Mostafiz runs on Ashulia-Abdullahpur route.

Banglanews Magura correspondent Rupak Aich gathered some information from the native home of Mostafiz in Magura. Mostafiz is the son of Shamsher Mollah of Kadirpara village under Sreepur upazilla. Due to family hardship while student of HSC class he came over Dhaka.

Family sources said, about one and half years back Mostafiz got married in Kushtia without informing anybody. But he never took wife in his native home. Mostafiz last visited village home about two and half months back.

Mostafiz’s mother Rima Aktar informed Banglanews that Mostafiz is the sixth issue among her six sons and two daughters. His father is a farmer, two brothers are serving in an enforcement department. Other three brothers are engaged in farming.

Reluctance of police in registering case:

Aminul disappeared on April 4 of this year. The Ashulia police authority did not accept the GD on behalf of the family. The family was told to come after 24 hours. Next on April 6 Ashulia police did accept the GD(No. 357)filed by his wife. But the officer in charge of Ashulia thana denied the delay.

Body recovery episode:

Aminul was disappeared on April 4. His body was buried by police as unidentified after its recovery from Brahmanpara college road by the side of Tangail-Mymenshing highway on April 5.

His family identified the body of missing Aminul after they saw his photograph in the newspaper on April 6.
Later on with court permission his body was re-entered and buried for the second time by the side of his father’s grave in Hijalhati village.
After the recovery of the body Ghatail thana S.I. Shahin Mia’s filed UD case was converted into original case and of late the investigation is going on the complaint of Aminul’s brother Rafiqul.

Facts about Aminul:

Aminul Islam son of Mafijuddin of village Balaichar under Sadar upazilla of Sherpur district about a decade ago along with wife Hosneara Fahima, only daughter Saima Akhter Ankhi, twin sons Abdul Hye Sakib and Abdul Qaium Rakib migrated to Hijahati village.

His brother Rfiqul and his father also came with him. However father died long ago.

At the beginning of his career he joined as a worker in Chakravarty Beximco at Ashulia. Later on, he joined as an organizer of Trade Union of Bangladesh Garments & Industrial Sramik Federation.

Aminul was elected as the president of regional committee of Savar & Ashulia unit of Bangladesh Garments & Industrial Sramik Federation who was also elected organizer of Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity.

At last he worked in Shorsha Denim factory. He filed a suit when the authority tried to sack him in 2006. Later, the High Court ordered to pay his basic salary and stayed the dismissal order as illegal.
From then the owner informed him that you do not need to work. You come every month and take away your basic salary of Taka 2400. He received the salary of Taka 2400 till his death, as claimed by the family source.

The locals also suspect the Shorsha Denim owner in this mysterious killing. Aminul’s colleague and president of Bangladesh Garments & Industrial Federation Babul Akhter informed that the owner of Queen’s garments might have an involvement in this killing.


BDST 1115 HRS, JUL 21, 2012
Edited by Shahjahan