Shawdesh Desk:

Countrywide protest over plot to assassinate Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir stepped into the third day.

People from different strata of the society joined the human chains and protest rallies took place in different places including Shahbagh in the capital and Bogura, Rangpur, Kushtia, Jashore, Mymensingh, Pabna and Barishal.

Hundreds of protesters, especially journalists condemned the plot and demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.

Foiling an assassination attempt on the Bashundhara Group Managing Director, law enforcers arrested a youth on Friday. The following day, police produced arrestee Saiful Islam Saad, 23, before the court. Saad has been put on three-day remand.

During preliminary interrogation, Saad confessed that he was preparing to attack Sayem Sobhan Anvir during Jumma prayers on Friday at the behest of Jatiya Sangsad whip Shamsul and his son Sharun.

In Barishal, the business community has expressed deep concern over the multiple attempts to assassinate Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

At the same time, they strongly condemned and protested the incident and demanded exemplary punishment by bringing all those involved, including the planners, under the law through a proper investigation.

Rebeka Sultana, secretary of Barisal District Women Business Forum, said that Bashundhara Group is the largest industrial group in the country. The attempt to assassinate the MD of this group is very sorrowful for the business community.

She demanded that exemplary punishment be meted out to the masterminds of the murder plot.

Saying that the country’s leading industrial conglomerate Bashundhara is making a significant contribution to the economy, Kazi Miraj Mahmud, joint general secretary of Barishal Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association, urged the law enforcers to bring all the culprits to book to avert such untoward incident.

President of the Barisal Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Director of the FBCCI Nizam Uddin Mridha said that such incidents are undoubtedly very worrying. Whoever is involved in this incident, all of them must be brought under the law. At the same time, the issue of exemplary punishment must be ensured.

Terming Sayem Sobhan Anvir as asset for the country, prominent businessman and managing director of eurotel bd online ltd SM Zakir Hossain said that it is very regrettable to hear that several attempts were made to kill such a talented and efficient entrepreneur.

Saidur Rahman Rintu, launch owner and president of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested and brought under the law.

In Kushtia, a protest rally and human chain was held demanding arrest of those involved in the attempt to murder the Bashundhara Group MD.

Kushtia Press Club organised the human chain at its premises at 11:00am on Monday.

Presided over by Press Club president Al-Mamun Sagar, the programme was also attended by Press Club general secretary Anisujjaman Dablu, Daily Kaler Kantho’s district correspondent Tariqul Haque Tariq, District Freedom Fighter Commander Haji Rafiqul Alam Tuku, News24  Staff Reporter Zahiduzzaman Zahid, Bangladesh Mofossal Sangbadik Forum’s (BMSF) Kushtia District unit President Hasibur Rahman Riju, Kushtia Press Club’s office secretary Nahid Hassan Titas, treasurer  M Liton Ujj Zaman, Daily Sun’s Kushtia correspondent Rezaul Karim Reza and others.

In Mymensingh, businessmen of the district demanded the arrest and trial of those involved in the assassination attempt on Bashundhara Group Managing Director and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

The demand was made at a protest rally and human chain programme of traders of all walks of life in the Baro Bazar area of the city on Monday morning.

Baro Bazar Business Welfare Association General Secrtary Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Abdur Rauf, Akhil Chandra Dhar, Md Kamal Uddin and others spoke in the event.

In Pabna, businessmen and people from different sections formed a human chain at Bera Rajghat area in the morning protesting the assassination attempt.

They demanded arrest of Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, also MP from Chattogram-12 constituency (Patiya), and his son Nazmul Karim Chowdhury Sharun, as they were allegedly involved in the assassination attempt.

Altab Hossain, President of Bera Ghat Business Association, businessman Sagar Hossain, leader of Bera Ghat Workers Association Harun Aur Rashid, leader of local Shop Owners Association Solaiman and other local business leaders and dignitaries attended the protest programme. At the end of this human chain, they brought out a demonstration procession.

On the same day, human chains and demonstrations were also held in Nagarbari Ghat area of Pabna to protest the assassination attempt on Bashundhara MD.

In Sirajganj, businessmen held a human chain demanding arrest of Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Nazmul Karim Chowdhury Sharun, the masterminds of the assassination attempt.

The traders of the district organised the human chain programme at the Bazar Station Chatar of the city around 11 am on Monday.

Saiful Islam, director of Shuvechcha Traders, Matiar Rahman, owner of Bondhan Traders, Shafiqul Islam of Shuvechcha Traders, Shimul Islam of Bhai Bhai Traders, Mozammel Haque, proprietor of Haq Iron, Aminul Islam and Raju Ahmed, proprietors of Asma Traders spoke on the occasion.

In Laxmipur, the business community condemned the attempt to assassinate the Bashundhara Group Managing Director.

President of Laxmipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry MR Masud, vice-president Sankar Kumar Majumdar, Laxmipur Trade Association general secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Sadar upazila Jaksin Bazar Trade Association adviser Mojammel Hossain expressed deep concern over the multiple attempts to assassinate Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

They demanded that exemplary punishment be meted out to the masterminds of the assassination plot after their arrest.

In Manikganj, a human chain was formed demanding arrest of Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Sharun Chowdhury for plotting to kill Bashundhara Group Managing Director and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

People of different classes and professions were present in the program held in front of Manikganj Press Club at 11 am on Monday.

Press Club President Golam Sarwar Chanu, General Secretary Biplob Chakraborty, Joint Convener of District Juba League Mahbubur Rahman Johnny and Mahmudul Haque Shubha and others spoke on the occasion.

In Jamalpur, a protest rally and human chain was held demanding arrest of those involved in the attempt to murder the Bashundhara Group MD.

The human chain was organised in front of Jamalpur Press Club around 11 am on Monday.

President of Jamalpur Press Club Hafiz Raihan Sada presided over the human chain.

General Secretary of Jamalpur Press Club Lutfar Rahman spoke on the occasion.

The speakers demanded immediate arrest of whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, his son Nazmul Karim alias Sharun Chowdhury and other perpetrators of the heinous incident.

In Faridpur, people held a rally in Boalmari upazila protesting the assassination attempt on the Bashundhara Group MD.

Boalmari Upazila Representative of Bangladesh Pratidin Principal Liakat Hossain presided over the protest rally organised by Boalmari Civil Society at 10.30 am on Monday.

Conducted by Professor Kazi Tareq Parvez, the programme was also attended by freedom fighter Nawabuddin Ahmed Token, cultural personality Gazi Shamsuzzaman Khokon, eminent businessman Anisuzzaman, eminent businessman Bishnupad Saha, educationist Debashish Kumar Shaha and cultural personality Jiban Krisham Pal.

In Jashore, people held a rally in front of Press Club protesting the assassination attempt on the Bashundhara Group MD.

prominent businessman of the district Shariful Alam Swapan, Md Abdul Quader, Md Shamsuzzoha Channu, Shah Md Ekramul, Sushant Kumar Biswas and many others participated in the programme.