Man gets involved with murder again being freed on presidential clemency
Former death row convict Aslam Fakir, who was simply freed in 2017 getting presidential clemency on political grounds in 2015, has been implicated in a murder case again.
Aslam Fakir, former president of Bhanga Upazila Jubo League, has been named as prime accused in the murder of Shahid Matbar from village Lakshmipur in Manikdah union under Bhanga upazila in Faridpur district. The murder case has been filed against 54 persons including Aslam Fakir recently.
On September 25, 2003, Faridpur District and Sessions Judge court awarded Aslam Fakir and two other accused--Tara Mridha and Imarat Ali--death sentences by hanging for murdering Bhanga's Manikdah union parishad chairman AKM Shahed Ali alias Saheb Mia.
Later, the High Court also upheld the verdict.
Confessing his involvement in the murder of Saheb Mia, Aslam Fakir submitted a mercy petition to the President on, may 19, 2013. However, the petition was rejected on October 13, 2014. Subsequently, the execution of his death sentence was scheduled on November 13 of the same year. All concerned including the district magistrate and police super were sent letters asking to stay present on the day of his execution.
However, his execution was postponed due to "his abnormal condition and sickness" inside jail just one day before the execution. He again submitted a mercy petition to the President for the next time.
The President had accepted Aslam Fakir's second mercy petition. He was given 14 years' jail sentence quashing his death sentence. He was released from Gazipur High Security Prison on August 25, 2017.
There are allegations that Aslam Fakir didn't only secured presidential clemency, but also got free of jail by using AL presidium member and former MP of Faridpur-4 constituency Kazi Zafarullah and his wife Nilufar Zafarullah.
Being freed from jail, Aslam Fakir returned to his village home and became active in politics again. Local persons were scared of Aslam Fakir because they thought that he previously were able to quash his death sentence.
On April 21 last, his opponents filed a murder and looting case against 54 persons including Aslam Fakir mentioning him as the prime accused.
Local said followers of two rival groups, owned by Shajahan Matbar and Jahangir Matbar, locked in violent clashes at village Laksmipur in Manikdah union on Tuesday last over diverting water in one person's agricultural land to another person's land. Aslam Fakir and his followers got involved in the clash in support of Jahangir Matbar. Aslam Fakir and his men stabbed one Shahid Sheikh, a peasant and follower of Shajahan Matbar, with a sharp knife on the spot. In addition they vandalised several houses and got involved with brutal looting creating widespread panic among persons in the region. Shahid Sheikh later died at Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
Murdered Shahid Sheikh was referred to as a supporter of Nixon Chowdhury.
Later, Shajahan Matbar filed a murder case against Aslam Fakir and 53 others with Bhanga Police Station. On the next day, he also filed another case against them alleging murdering, looting and vandalising.
Bhanga police station officer-in-charge Shafiqur Rahman said the clash broke out over a triffle matter. Aslam Fakir have been doing whatever he liked since his released from jail on presidential clemency. He didn't be concerned about police. There have been many complaints lodged against him from earlier.
The OC also said the prime accused of the murder case Aslam Fakir and others have been absconding. However, police are trying to arrest them, he said.
Faridpur police and local sources said Aslam Fakir is involved in Awami League politics. He's known to be close to AL leader Kazi Zafarullah.
Locals alleged that on April 21 Zafarullah's followers had locked in clashes with the followers of the constituency's current independent MP Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury (Nixon) over establishing their control in the region, locals alleged.
