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Fake ‘July fighter’ listing in Rajshahi sparks anger and demands probe

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A major controversy has erupted in Chandipur village of Bagha upazila, Rajshahi, after a local youth injured in a family land dispute was officially gazetted as a ‘July fighter’ for allegedly taking part in the movement to overthrow the Awami League government. The incident has sparked anger among villagers, raising concerns of fraud, political exploitation, and injustice to genuine protesters.

The youth in question, Zahid Hasan, 22, is the son of Rabiul Islam, a resident of Chandipur. Locals say Zahid worked at a private company in Dhaka until early August 2024. On August 1, he resigned from his job and returned to his ancestral village. At that time, Bangladesh was experiencing intense one-stage protests demanding the resignation of the Awami League government.

Upon his return, Zahid reportedly took advantage of the ongoing movement to settle old family scores. Villagers said Zahid used the tense political climate as a shield to confront his long-standing rival, Mustaq Ahmed, a local schoolteacher. The two families had been locked in disputes over land ownership and deposits for years.

On August 5, the day the Awami League government collapsed, tensions boiled over. Zahid confronted Mustaq’s family, and a violent clash ensued. Witnesses claim Zahid was injured in the counterattack by Mustaq’s relatives. Locals rushed him first to Bagha Upazila Health Complex and later transferred him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for advanced........

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