Two Jatiya Party (JP) leaders accused in attempted murder case join BNP with flowers

Two Jatiya Party (JP) leaders accused in the attack and attempted murder case on students and public during the July movement in Shibganj, Bogra have joined BNP. They formally joined the party by offering flowers at a BNP worker rally organized by BNP in Saidpur and Majhihatta unions of Shibganj upazila on Tuesday and Wednesday.

These two leaders are Abdul Motaleb Molla, chairman of Saidpur Union Parishad and former general secretary of Shibganj Upazila JP, and Mirza Eskender Ali, chairman of Majhihatta Union Parishad supported by JP. Locals say that they are known as close associates of former MP and district JP president Shariful Islam Jinnah.

Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shahinuzzaman said that there are two cases against Abdul Motaleb and Eskender Ali in Shibganj and Bogra Sadar police stations, which are still under investigation. During the July movement last year, they attacked a student-public procession with domestic and firearms and shot a person named Minhaj.

Mottaleb Molla was relieved of his party post at the Upazila Japa Committee meeting. He says that the reason for joining the BNP was being relieved of this post. And Eskender Ali claims that the ACC's allegations against him are unproven and he voluntarily retired from service.

Shibganj Upazila BNP President and potential candidate for Bogra-2 constituency Mir Shahe Alam was the chief guest at the two worker rallies. At that time, the two leaders joined the BNP with their workers and supporters. Locals say that Eskender Ali's family has long-standing political ties with the BNP. He said that he joined because of family political ties and trust in the BNP leadership, inspired by the ideology of Shaheed Zia.