Litany Of Allegations
Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu
Former BNP state minister for land Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu allegedly helped the rise of militant kingpin Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai in greater Rajshahi area in 2004, while the ex-minister also raised a gang of criminals led by his cousins and nephews, who terrorised the people of Natore and gradually took over the district's underworld.
Dulu reportedly met with Bangla Bhai several times in 2004 and maintained the contact until the militant leader was arrested on March 6 last year. Several newspapers reported that on April 18, 2004, Bangla Bhai and his aides visited Dulu's house in Natore after openly holding a rally in front of an adjacent mosque. The then Natore Sadar assitant superintendent of police escorted Bangla Bhai back to his den allegedly under Dulu's direct instructions.
Dulu also allegedly sent a number of his hired hands to protect Bangla Bhai during the March 16, 2004 gunfight between the police and Bangla Bhai's gang on Sadhanpur Bridge, Rajshahi. When the police captured several of the criminals, they introduced themselves as the state minister's men. All but one of them were released that very night.
When Dulu's nephew Sabbir Ahmed Gama, who was notorious for criminal activities in Natore, was killed on February 7, 2004, Dulu's another nephew Dalim led a band who ransacked villages and burned down at least 40 houses with gunpowder.
Most of the victims were reportedly Natore Awami League leaders or activists, who later fled the district. When these attacks were reported, Dulu's men led by Natore Jubo Dal General Secretary Babul Chowdhury brutally attacked the daily Janakantha correspondent GM Iqbal Hasan on February 9, 2004.
According to a police report released in 2005, at least nine cases were filed in Natore in connection with the violence but all of the cases were closed as no-one dared to testify as witness. Locals even became scared to talk to the newsmen as Dulu's men had already assaulted several people for talking to the press.
Dulu was allegedly involved in the murder of Naldanga Chhatra League leader Afsar on the very night of October 1, 2001, when the BNP-led coalition won the national election. In 2002, Dulu's aide Dumbell's men killed two other AL men. In July 2004, another AL leader Ibrahim Hossain was picked up from his house and shot.
A number of others, including leaders of district AL and its front organisations, were seriously injured as they were beaten up, hacked and shot in public by Dulu's men throughout the course of 2005 and 2006.
Dulu's aides including Dumbell, Sohel, Tipu, Dollar and Ferdous led the attacks. District investigative officers said probes into all the incidents were stalled by the end of the BNP-led coalition government's tenure in late 2006.
Dulu is also reported to have made inactive the 'Lathi-Banshi Samity', an organisation of the Natore traders, when it took initiative to stop extortion in the district.
The former state minister chaired a meeting in 2003 where the Natore deputy commissioner banned the organisation for a month. After the organisation was allowed to function on condition of accepting the leadership approved by Dulu, it began to be used against the political opponents in the area.
Former BNP state minister for land Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu allegedly helped the rise of militant kingpin Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai in greater Rajshahi area in 2004, while the ex-minister also raised a gang of criminals led by his cousins and nephews, who terrorised the people of Natore and gradually took over the district's underworld.
Dulu reportedly met with Bangla Bhai several times in 2004 and maintained the contact until the militant leader was arrested on March 6 last year. Several newspapers reported that on April 18, 2004, Bangla Bhai and his aides visited Dulu's house in Natore after openly holding a rally in front of an adjacent mosque. The then Natore Sadar assitant superintendent of police escorted Bangla Bhai back to his den allegedly under Dulu's direct instructions.
Dulu also allegedly sent a number of his hired hands to protect Bangla Bhai during the March 16, 2004 gunfight between the police and Bangla Bhai's gang on Sadhanpur Bridge, Rajshahi. When the police captured several of the criminals, they introduced themselves as the state minister's men. All but one of them were released that very night.
When Dulu's nephew Sabbir Ahmed Gama, who was notorious for criminal activities in Natore, was killed on February 7, 2004, Dulu's another nephew Dalim led a band who ransacked villages and burned down at least 40 houses with gunpowder.
Most of the victims were reportedly Natore Awami League leaders or activists, who later fled the district. When these attacks were reported, Dulu's men led by Natore Jubo Dal General Secretary Babul Chowdhury brutally attacked the daily Janakantha correspondent GM Iqbal Hasan on February 9, 2004.
According to a police report released in 2005, at least nine cases were filed in Natore in connection with the violence but all of the cases were closed as no-one dared to testify as witness. Locals even became scared to talk to the newsmen as Dulu's men had already assaulted several people for talking to the press.
Dulu was allegedly involved in the murder of Naldanga Chhatra League leader Afsar on the very night of October 1, 2001, when the BNP-led coalition won the national election. In 2002, Dulu's aide Dumbell's men killed two other AL men. In July 2004, another AL leader Ibrahim Hossain was picked up from his house and shot.
A number of others, including leaders of district AL and its front organisations, were seriously injured as they were beaten up, hacked and shot in public by Dulu's men throughout the course of 2005 and 2006.
Dulu's aides including Dumbell, Sohel, Tipu, Dollar and Ferdous led the attacks. District investigative officers said probes into all the incidents were stalled by the end of the BNP-led coalition government's tenure in late 2006.
Dulu is also reported to have made inactive the 'Lathi-Banshi Samity', an organisation of the Natore traders, when it took initiative to stop extortion in the district.
The former state minister chaired a meeting in 2003 where the Natore deputy commissioner banned the organisation for a month. After the organisation was allowed to function on condition of accepting the leadership approved by Dulu, it began to be used against the political opponents in the area.
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