‘Withdraw sedition case’

Leaders of Sanatan Jagaran Mancha yesterday alleged that law enforcers in Chattogram created obstacles to bar people from joining its rally at the Cheragi Pahar intersection.
Swatantra Gouranga Das Brahmachari, a coordinator of Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, at the rally said, “Members of law enforcement agencies are obstructing people coming to the rally in different spots including Jamal Khan, Nandan Kanan, Anderkilla and Surson Road.”
“If they are not allowing the people of Sanatani community to come to the rally, we will go to the spots to bring them here,” he added.
The rally was organised demanding the government to withdraw the sedition case filed against 19 people including ISKCON Chattogram Divisional Organising Secretary Chandan Kumar Dhar alias Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, on charges of “disrespecting” the national flag in Chattogram’s New Market area last Friday.
Gouranga Das said they will submit a memorandum to the chief advisor through the deputy commissioners of 64 districts demanding for the withdrawal of the case on Sunday.
“We will go for a tougher programme if the case is not withdrawn by Monday,” he warned.
He said BNP general secretary of the port city’s Mohora ward unit Firoj Khan filed the case on Wednesday, adding, “BNP has already expelled him from the party on charges of acting against the norms and ideology of the party.”
“That means, BNP has understood that Firoj was trying to hamper the peaceful situation of the country by creating an untoward situation,” he said, adding, “After his expulsion from the party, is there any moral basis for the case?”
Earlier, thousands of people gathered at Cheragi Pahar intersection around 3:00pm and chanted slogans for withdrawal of the case.
Contacted, Liakat Ali Khan, deputy commissioner (south zone) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, did not want to make any comments on the matter.