Former Dhaka North City councilor (Ward No. 33) Tariquzzaman Rajib alleged that he was arrested allegedly as a plan of an influential person and his brothers Joseph, Haris, and Anis to make their nephew councilor.  

Besides, Rajib demanded an immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the vested quarter.

He came up with the allegation in a press conference organised jointly by former Dhaka North City councilor (Ward No. 32) Habibur Rahman Mizan at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity in Shegunbagicha of the capital on Sunday (May 28).

Tariquzzaman Rajib, also former joint general secretary of Dhaka North Jubo League said, "At a very young age, I was advancing towards success, which made them jealous. In October 2019, I was arrested. This was done with the direction of an influential person, his terrorist brothers Tofayel Ahmed Joseph, Harris Ahmed and Anis Ahmed.

He further said, after my arrest, a search operation was going on at my house and office throughout the night. Various intelligence agencies carried out their operations then. "However, after the operation, the team conducting the operation told the media that I have no casino involvement. But that campaign was 'casino crackdown'," he added.

Stating that the allegations of huge wealth brought in his name are completely false and fabricated, Rajib said that the law enforcement officer during their investigation did not find any evidence of my bank account abroad. 

The former councilor said that the Joseph- Haris family was known as a terrorist group in Dhaka since the 90s. But they want to make a political debut. Mohammadpur is the old sanctuary of their terrorist activities. I was a councilor in that area. 

I was arrested with a plan to make their nephew Asif Ahmed a councilor in my place. Until my arrest in 2019, I did not have a case or even a GD in my name. Although I was not involved in any crime, I was arrested only because of the influence of that terrorist group.

Three years have been taken away from my life, he said, referring to having spent more than three years in jail without committing a crime. Currently, me and my family are under threat from that terrorist group. I am facing a life threat. I demand that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will quickly arrest those involved in the inhuman incident that happened to me and give them exemplary punishment.

When asked about the allegations raised during the arrest, he said, "I have come to speak before you today. A person cannot defend himself without honest and courage." 

When asked about that influential person, he said: "You are wise people; you should try to understand the words. They changed the course of our lives when we were two councilors. So, I can't reveal his name even though I want to."

"As there are security concerns for me and my family, we are drawing the attention of law enforcement," he said.

When asked why only you two were targeted though there are more councilors in Mohammadpur area, Rajib replied: "You know their nephew Asif, who was earlier arrested in a drug case. I was targeted to make him a councilor in my constituency. Since the 90s, they have had more lands in the area, where they have their old residence. I was arrested on false charges to eliminate me."

BDST: 1913 HRS, MAY 28, 2023