During the anti-discrimination movement from July 16 to August 4, violent clashes broke out between members of the ruling Awami League and protesters at various locations in the city of Chattogram.
Several armed men fired shotguns, pistols, revolvers and even a handgun at students. Seven people were killed and over 100 demonstrators were injured.
Analyzing the incidents, TBS found that one of the shooters was spotted in the New Market neighborhood on August 4, shooting at students with an AK-47-style rifle.
A photograph of the incident, taken by TBS photojournalist Mohammad Minhaj Uddin, appeared on the front page of Business Standard on August 5. The picture shows a young man in a black T-shirt, blue three-quarter pants and helmet, with a towel around his neck, firing at the students with an AK-47-like weapon.
Who is the man?
Our correspondent confirmed the identity of one of the shooters after speaking to activists of various political parties and officials of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP). The shooter was identified as Mohammad Solaiman, also known as Solaiman Badsha.
Solaiman is considered a close confidant of Mohammad Wasim, the councillor of Pahartali District 13. According to police, he has been accused of several cases, including robbery and extortion.
Photojournalist Minhaj recounted his experience of covering the clashes on August 4: “Since morning, angry students had gathered in the New Market area. In the afternoon, a large procession of Awami League workers from Sadarghat and Alkaran areas and another from Enayet Bazar marched towards New Market. Soon, clashes broke out between the students and the ruling party men. Soon after, Jubo League leader Helal Akbar Chowdhury Babar arrived in a white SUV.”
Minhaj continued, “After a while, I saw a young man wearing a towel around his neck and a helmet on his head, shooting with something that looked like an AK-47.”
According to police, it is an improved version of the AK-47
“Although the weapon bears a strong resemblance to the AK-47, it is an improved version,” said a CMP official who wished to remain anonymous.
The AK-47 rifle is a military weapon used by the armed forces in over 50 countries around the world. These weapons are generally not approved for use by civilian armed forces.
The official said these firearms should only be in the possession of the military, paramilitary or specialized police forces.
Babar of the Jubo League is said to have supplied weapons
According to a TBS investigation, Babar, the former deputy financial secretary of the Jubo League, is alleged to have supplied the arms and ammunition used in attacks on students during the students' anti-discrimination movement.
Some of the weapons fired during the Muradpur clash on July 16 were reportedly delivered in a white SUV. The SUV, bearing the registration number Chatto Metro-G 14-3221, belongs to Zafar Ullah, a close associate of Babar. Babar is said to have led the procession in this vehicle that day.
Nurul Azim Roni, former general secretary of Mahanagar Chhatra League, was also seen at the crime scene.
Babar, who is considered a close confidant of former Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Naufel, is involved in a double murder that took place in the CRB area of the city on June 24, 2013. He is accused of controlling all tenders, catering services of trains and even the recruitment and promotion of Railway (Eastern Region) officials for the last 15 years.
3 students shot, 50 injured on July 18
On July 18, four armed men opened fire on students during a clash at Bahaddarhat junction while shouting pro-government slogans. Two men in black T-shirts and blue jerseys fired shotguns while two other men armed with revolvers also joined the attack. The violence left two people dead and 50 others injured.
According to an analysis of several photographs taken by TBS journalists and interviews with police and party activists, one of the attackers, identified as Mohiuddin, the leader of the Chandgaon Thana Swechchhasebak League, was wearing a helmet and a white polo shirt and brandishing a revolver.
Identities of some armed men known
During the student protests, photos were published in various media the following day of three armed men who opened fire on students in Muradpur on July 16.
One of the shooters, identified as a Mahanagar Jubo League activist, was wearing a helmet and a light grey polo shirt. Another shooter, Md Delwar, who was wearing a dark blue polo shirt and jeans, is an organiser of the Swechchhasebak League. Delwar used a shotgun while Firoz fired a revolver. The third shooter, Tutul and Delwar, who fired with pistols, were close associates of Babar. Firoz is known to be involved in Awami League politics.
Police search for the shooters
Before the government was overthrown, the police did not take action against the armed criminals, but when the interim government took power, charges were brought against them. Since the government collapsed, however, the accused have gone into hiding.
TBS attempted to contact several armed men, including Babar, but none could be located at the addresses provided and their phones were found to be switched off.
When contacted, CMP Assistant Commissioner Abdul Mannan told TBS, “Several CMP teams are working to identify the miscreants who shot at the students. We have confirmed the identities of several shooters but in the interest of investigation, we cannot reveal their details at this stage.”
He added: “We are investigating who supplied the weapons and gave the order to shoot at the protesters. Charges have already been filed and the perpetrators will soon be brought to justice.”
