Former Chhatra Dal leader accused of openly brandishing shotgun in Pabna

Photo: CNI

PABNA, Aug 18: Former Chhatra Dal leader Jubayer Hossain Bappi, also known as “Hoop Bappi,” has been accused of openly brandishing a licensed shotgun while wearing shroud cloth around his head and body in Ishwardi municipality of Pabna.

The incident took place on Monday (August 17) afternoon.

Bappi has also been accused of openly threatening to kill former Ishwardi Upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Mehedi Hasan.

Bappi claimed that he took to the streets carrying the firearm and wearing the shroud cloth to openly challenge those who had threatened to kill him, as well as people involved in drug trafficking and usury.

The incident triggered tension in Ishwardi town and around the main gate of Ishwardi Police Station from Monday afternoon until around 9pm. Later, police seized Bappi’s firearm and took him into custody on allegations of creating public panic by openly displaying a weapon. He was subsequently released after signing a bond.

Jubayer Hossain Bappi is the son of Abul Hossain of Mashuria Para in Ishwardi town. He is a supporter of a faction of the local BNP and identifies himself as a former Chhatra Dal leader. However, it could not be confirmed which position he previously held.

According to eyewitnesses, police and local BNP activists, Bappi came out in the town around 4:30pm on Monday wearing white shroud cloth around his head and body and carrying his licensed shotgun. He was accompanied by several people, including Sulabh Malitha, convener of Dashuria Union BNP.

Bappi claimed that several criminals in Ishwardi had threatened to kill him. In response, he said he openly challenged the alleged threat-makers by leaving his home on College Road carrying the firearm and wearing the shroud cloth, and went to the Zero Point Railgate. He later went to the police station in the evening and said he had been threatened with death and had come out publicly to issue an open challenge.

Meanwhile, after learning that Bappi was at the police station, former Upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Mehedi Hasan, BNP leader Anwar Hossain Jony and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir gathered in front of the police station and staged a protest.

Mehedi Hasan said Bappi had openly come to the Railgate from Bakul’s intersection carrying a firearm and threatened and abused him, allegedly with the intention of killing him. He demanded Bappi’s arrest and cancellation of his firearm licence.

Later, around midnight, Bappi and five others accompanying him were handed over to the District Detective Branch (DB) of police. The DB later released them after obtaining bonds from their families.

Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asadur Rahman said Golam Rabbi, manager of Mehedi Hasan’s establishment, had filed a written complaint with the police station over the alleged death threat against Mehedi.

“The complaint will be investigated and legal action will be taken accordingly,” he said.

At the same time, police are investigating whether Bappi violated any conditions of his firearm licence, the OC added.