The Sylhet District Bus-Minibus-Coach-Microbus Workers’ Union, the leading organization representing transport workers in Sylhet, held a press conference demanding a fair investigation into the deaths of two workers in an unexpected clash at the Kadamtali Bus Terminal and punishment for those responsible. The union leaders also spoke against what they described as false cases and misinformation targeting their leaders.
The press conference was held at an upscale restaurant in Sylhet city on Saturday afternoon (August 8).
At the press conference, the union leaders said a murder case was filed with Dakshin Surma Police Station on May 6 over a clash and altercation that took place on April 27 in front of the office of the Sylhet District Road Transport Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association at Kadamtali Bus Terminal.
They said the case named 29 people as accused, along with several innocent labour leaders—including Sylhet District Bus-Minibus-Coach-Microbus Workers’ Union President Haji Md Moinul Islam, Joint General Secretary Ali Akbar Rajon and Treasurer Abdus Shahid—and another 50 to 60 unidentified people.
According to the union leaders, Dakshin Surma police conducted the investigation in a professional, impartial and lawful manner. They said investigators initially found no evidence showing that case accused No. 1 Haji Moinul Islam, No. 2 Ali Akbar Rajon, No. 6 Abdus Shahid and No. 7 Shamsul Haque Manik were present at or involved in the incident.
Based on the evidence and witness statements, the investigating officer submitted an interim police report under Section 173-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, they said.
The leaders further claimed that SMP Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury and investigation officer Mofizul Islam, after examining mobile phone tracking data, information technology records and CDR/ML-related evidence, determined that the first three leaders were attending an election of a sub-committee of the organisation at Nazirbazar at the time of the incident, while the other two were in Habiganj.
Despite this, the leaders alleged that misleading reports and misinformation about the issue were being circulated on social media, including Facebook, creating confusion among the public.
The union leaders also accused Azir Uddin and Chhablu Mia of making false allegations at separate press conferences held on July 29 and August 1.
They claimed that although the two men had accused the union leaders, several individuals named as accused in a case filed by Azir Uddin at Dakshin Surma Police Station—Shahjahan, Abdul Muhim, Riazul Islam (Rajon), Abul Hossain, Hossain Mohammad Sunder Ali, Apu, Selim Uddin and Abdur Rup, among others—were allegedly the instigators and main accused in the killings of workers Delwar and Ripon.
The speakers said that the names of the union leaders were not included in two cases filed by Rajia Akter, wife of deceased worker Delwar, and by Azir Uddin and his daughter-in-law in connection with the same incident. Nevertheless, they alleged that the leaders’ names were mentioned at press conferences and on various online channels at the instigation of the accused individuals, causing confusion among workers.
The leaders further said that Chhablu Mia, father of deceased worker Ripon and complainant in case No. 06/93, filed another case in court on April 30 naming 22 people (Case No. 133/2026). They said none of the labour leaders was named in that case. However, Chhablu Mia later withdrew the case from the court on May 5 and deliberately included the names of the labour leaders in the first information report filed with Dakshin Surma Police Station under case No. 06/93.
The union leaders alleged that Chhablu Mia, Ripon's father, and Azir Uddin, Delwar's father, had made contradictory statements at different times and blamed different individuals in an effort to serve their own interests.
They also said that Pappu, accused No. 6 in case No. 07/94, Apu, accused No. 7, and several outsiders, including an unidentified Shakil Ahmed, were present during the clash even though they did not work at the bus terminal. The leaders claimed that CCTV footage from the terminal showed their presence at the scene.
The speakers further alleged that the accused had removed video footage showing the deaths of Delwar and Ripon during the incident, preventing police and the administration from locating the footage.
The labour leaders urged the authorities to recover the missing video footage, take legal action against those responsible and release innocent labour leaders from the cases.
They also called on the authorities to uncover the truth behind the incident and ensure that no innocent workers or labour leaders are harassed through false cases.
At the press conference, the union also announced the permanent expulsion of its General Secretary, Abdur Muhim, citing his alleged direct involvement in the April 27 clash that resulted in the deaths of two workers and damage to vehicles, offices and furniture. The union said he was also expelled under Articles 7(a), 7(b) and 26 of its constitution for allegedly engaging in two settlements before the Labour Court and five other activities deemed contrary to the organisation's interests.
