Ibrahim Hossain, Staff Reporter, Cumilla, Bangladesh: Iqbal Hossain, a leader of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), is mourning the death of his mother, Anwara Begum, who passed away on February 19th. However, Hossain claims he couldn’t return home from his current residence in London due to “false cases” filed against him by the ruling Awami League party.
Talented student Iqbal’s mother Anwara Begum died of a heart attack on February 19 at a hospital in Cumilla city. She was 70 years old at the time of her death. The Barura Upazila branch of JCD officially expressed grief over Anwara Begum’s passing.
Iqbal Hossain blames the relentless harassment by local Awami League workers for his mother’s death, claiming the constant anxiety and fear pushed her over the edge. He paints himself as a victim of “dirty politics,” accusing the Awami League of using false legal cases to persecute him. The harassment, he alleges, extends beyond legal maneuvers, encompassing death threats, attacks on his home, and violence against him and his family.
“The dirty politics of the Awami League in Bangladesh have turned my life upside down. They’ve fabricated false charges against me, leaving me constantly fearing for my life. My home has been a target, repeatedly attacked and even set on fire. This hasn’t stopped with me – my parents were brutally assaulted multiple times,” said Iqbal Hossain.
A check with Barura Police Station revealed two open cases against Mohammad Iqbal Hossain. One case, dating back to 2015 (Case No. 24/15), remains unresolved. Hossain is currently in London.
Iqbal Hossain faces a chilling threat upon returning to Bangladesh. According to him, Dulal Chawkidar, the leader of the Barura Upazila Awami League, has threatened to kill him.
Zahirul Haque Swapan, president of the Barura Upazila JCD, offered condolences on the passing of Iqbal Hossain’s mother. He also stated that a seemingly politically motivated case (Case No-30/2022) was filed against Mohammad Iqbal Hossain by Barura police on August 9, 2022. This case remains under trial. The police could not arrest him as he was absconding after being included in the warrant in that case. Because of that, the court ordered to confiscate all the furniture in his house.
On October 9, 2023, Awami League leaders in Barura Upazila organized a human chain protest in Amratali Bazar of Shilmuri Union. During the protest, Dudal Chawkidar, general secretary of the Barura Awami League, publicly accused Iqbal Hossain, a leader of the opposition Chhatra Dal, of being a wanted criminal affiliated with Jamaat-BNP. Chawkidar demanded Hossain’s immediate arrest and execution. Despite the Jamaat-e-Islami & BNP party not being banned, other Awami League leaders echoed these accusations, raising questions about the legitimacy of their claims.
Hossain alleges that in January 2024, Awami League members took over his residence, but no official complaint was filed. “On January 15, 2024, during a period of political tension between Awami League and BNP, a group led by Farooq Hossain, a prominent figure in the local Awami League, allegedly seized control of my residence. Despite this, no official complaint regarding the incident was filed with the Barura Police Station at the time.”
Iqbal Hossain also stated that his involvement in Chhatra Dal politics has become a source of personal danger. He claims to have been physically abused and subjected to false legal charges. Citing persecution as a student leader, Hossain fled Bangladesh for Qatar on May 8, 2015.
Iqbal Hossain confirms two open cases against him at Barura Police Station. One case dates back to 2015, while the other was filed in August 2022. Hossain alleges the latter case is politically motivated. This most recent case resulted in a warrant for his arrest, leading to the confiscation of his property in Bangladesh.
The ongoing legal proceedings make it uncertain when Hossain might return to Bangladesh. The accusations exchanged between both parties highlight the tense political climate that has significantly impacted Hossain’s personal life.
Edited by: Jisan Al Jubair