NCP’s Hannan Masud files GD over ‘death threats’

Abdul Hannan Masud, the senior joint chief convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the party’s candidate for the upcoming Noakhali-6 parliamentary election, has allegedly received death threats.

Masud’s uncle Shamsul Tibriz, the chief convenor of the NCP’s Hatiya Upazila convener committee, filed the general diary (GD) at Hatiya Police Station on Thursday night, according to Md Saiful Alam, the police station’s chief.

Shamsul said, “My nephew Abdul Hannan Masud has been receiving public death threats for a long time. We are suffering from extreme insecurity due to repeated intimidation and death threats on social media.

“I fear that he may suffer serious harm at any time. That is why I have filed a general diary with the police station. I demand that the administration ensure his safety.”

The GD states that on the evening of Dec 18, a Facebook account with the name “Rupak Nandi” publicly threatened to kill Masud. In addition, on the same afternoon, another Facebook account with the name “Israt Raihan Ome” sent a message to an NCP activist, threatening to intimidate and kill Masud and his associates.

The GD names seven suspects. They are – 25-year-old Rupak Nandi, 46-year-old Abdul Halim Azad - former chairman of Char Ishwar Union, his 27-year-old son Israt Raihan Ome, 25-year-old Prem Nal, 26-year-old Nur Hossain Rahim, 32-year-old Babulal, and 32-year-old Omar Faruk.

The suspects are accused of trying to intimidate Masud at different times and in different ways, threatening to kill him and his associates. The diary also says that they can cause major damage at any time.

Regarding the death threats, Masud said: "Such actions are direct attempts to destabilise the law-and-order situation and a naked attack on democratic values.”

“Law-enforcing agencies have already been informed. If the culprits are not identified quickly and exemplary punishment is not ensured, such crimes will be encouraged. Therefore, I strongly demand that the strictest legal action be taken against those involved.”

OC Saiful said, “The incident has come to our attention. A general diary (GD) has been registered in this regard. The screenshots will be verified and necessary legal action will be taken against those involved after an investigation.”