Seven years after an alleged attack on BNP leaders and activists, a case has been filed against 610 Barishal district leaders and activists and the Metropolitan Awami League, including Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, former mayor of the city.

Sarwar Hossain, president of the Tungibaria Workers’ Party of the BNP, filed the case in the Barishal Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court yesterday (November 11).

Assistant Bench Mizanur Rahman confirmed that Justice Nurul Amin accepted the complaint and ordered the officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station to submit an investigation report.

According to the complainant, the incident took place on January 5, 2017 at around 11:30 am when he and other BNP activists were on their way to the party office on Sadar Road to attend a scheduled programme.

After reaching Sadar Road, they were allegedly attacked by Awami League activists wielding machetes, iron pipes, hockey sticks and Chinese axes.

The main witness, former president of the BNP Southern District branch, Ebayedul Haque Chan, was allegedly assaulted at gunpoint. Other accused individuals allegedly beat and hacked the BNP leaders, including the complainant, and robbed them of their gold jewelery and money.

The main accused in this case include former Mayor Barishal and General Secretary of Barishal Metropolitan Awami League, Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, former Chairman of District Council and President of Barishal Metropolitan Awami League Advocate AKM Jahangir, General Secretary of District Awami League Advocate Talukder Md. Yunus, former Janata and Agrani Bank executives Barrister Boloram Poddar and Serniabat’s brothers Sadiq Abdullah, Serniabat Moinuddin Abdullah and Ashiq Abdullah, among 210 others named and 400 unidentified people.

Counsel for the applicant, Hafizuddin Ahmed Bablu, said the charges against the accused include intent to kill, assault causing grievous and minor injuries to BNP leaders, theft, damage to property and death threats.