[object Object]

A real estate businessman from Barishal alleges he was violently assaulted and coerced into signing blank cheques and legal documents by associates before being taken to a local police station. Abdul Aziz Hawlader, Managing Director of Agrani Housing Limited, stated that on the evening of June 27, Mostafizur Rahman Litu and his associates entered his office, physically assaulted him, and initially took a blank cheque.

“

Now let's go to the police station. The matter will be settled there. You owe me money.

According to Hawlader, the attackers then forced him to write a cheque for 70 lakh Bangladeshi Taka and sign and seal six pages of documents on stamp paper. Litu allegedly then insisted they go to the police station, saying, "Now let's go to the police station. The matter will be settled there. You owe me money." Hawlader claims Litu warned him not to disclose the assault or coercion to the police, fearing further violence.

“

I did not tell the police that I had been assaulted or forced to sign the documents because I feared for my safety. I thought that if I spoke out at the station, they might attack me again.

Upon arriving at Kotwali Police Station, Hawlader and the group proceeded to the room of Inspector (Investigation) Lutfor Rahman, as the officer-in-charge was absent. Hawlader alleges Litu presented the situation to the inspector as a financial dispute requiring police mediation. Fearing for his safety, Hawlader remained silent about the assault and coercion, stating, "I did not tell the police that I had been assaulted or forced to sign the documents because I feared for my safety. I thought that if I spoke out at the station, they might attack me again."

“

At around 8:30pm, Litu and businessman Abdul Aziz came to the station seeking mediation over a business-related financial dispute. I asked for a written complaint, and Litu submitted one. The next hearing date was fixed for July 5. Aziz did not tell me anything about being assaulted, so I had no knowledge of such allegations.

Inspector Lutfor Rahman confirmed that Litu and Hawlader came to the station seeking mediation for a business-related financial dispute. He stated that Litu submitted a written complaint and a hearing date was set for July 5. However, Rahman denied any knowledge of an assault, as Hawlader had not reported it. Conversely, Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Al Mamun Islam denied that any formal police mediation had taken place during his tenure. Meanwhile, Hawlader has filed a complaint with the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, naming seven individuals, including Litu, as accused.

“

Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Al Mamun Islam denied that any formal police mediation had taken place, saying no such incident had occurred during his six-month tenure as OC.