Mohammad Kamal Uddin, The Daily Tourist:
In Patiya Upazila of Chattogram, BNP leader Mohammad Qayes was arrested as the prime accused in the murder case of Sohel. However, local political observers, eyewitnesses, and residents unanimously assert that Qayes is completely innocent. They believe his arrest is part of a political maneuver by Chairman Kasem to consolidate personal dominance and influence in the area. Qayes’ Political Profile and Local Influence Mohammad Qayes is an active political leader of Kashiaish Union. He won the Union Parishad elections in 2016 and was re-elected in 2021. However, despite his victory, Chairman Kasem, with the backing of influential Awami League leader and MP Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, declared himself chairman. Qayes filed a case in court challenging this irregularity, which remains under judicial review. Locals suggest that Qayes’ popularity and political talent irritated Chairman Kasem, leading to attempts to politically frame him. The True Account of Sohel’s Murder The deceased, Sohel, was the younger brother of Chairman Kasem and the nephew of KDS Group Chairman Khalilur Rahman. According to local sources, Sohel was attacked by another individual wielding a sharp knife. Residents indicate that the killing was motivated by the struggle for power and dominance in the area, not by Qayes. The actual murderer remains in custody.
On the day of the incident, Qayes was attending Tarawih prayers at a mosque in Sugandha Residential Area, Chattogram city. Multiple eyewitnesses have confirmed this, and the PBI investigation corroborated it. While Qayes was performing prayers at Sugandha Housing Society Mosque, there is no conceivable connection between him and the murder. In the case, Chairman Kasem accused Qayes of directly stabbing Sohel. However, eyewitness accounts and court proceedings confirm that the real assailant, Sharif, carried out the attack to protect himself and ended Sohel’s life. Qayes was neither present at the scene nor involved in any manner. Local Response and Protests News of Qayes’ arrest sparked peaceful protests by residents, businesspeople, and political activists. Hundreds gathered outside Baklia Police Station, urging the government to release the innocent leader immediately. Locals insist, “Qayes has always stood for public welfare and justice. He is being framed for political purposes.” Political Analysis Patiya’s political landscape has long been marked by power struggles, personal rivalries, and harassment of popular leaders. Local observers view Qayes’ arrest as a deliberate political strategy to secure dominance in the area. His case exemplifies how innocent and popular political figures can become victims of vengeance, where power and influence are used to instill fear and suppress opposition. Conclusion The arrest of Mohammad Qayes and the local protests in his support highlight that politics in Patiya is not merely a contest for power—it is also a tool used to pressure and frame innocent individuals. Without law-based, evidence-driven investigation, justice cannot prevail. Locals hope Qayes’ innocence will be proven and the true perpetrator brought to justice, setting an important precedent for both humanitarian justice and political transparency.