In a striking turn of events in Narail Sadar Upazila, local residents who assisted in apprehending suspected oil thieves now find themselves entangled in a legal battle. On Friday afternoon, a human chain was formed at Hatiara Bazaar in the Sheikhhati Union to protest what the community describes as a “harassment lawsuit” filed by the wife of one of the accused.
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The Genesis of the Dispute
The controversy began on the night of March 26, 2026, when a significant quantity of fuel was siphoned from an excavator engaged in local canal re-excavation. Suspicion quickly fell upon three local men: our representative. Two days later, on March 28, the machine’s owners—bolstered by a crowd of villagers—tracked down and detained the trio at Hatiara Bazaar.
While the suspects were being held, tensions boiled over, and several members of the gathered crowd allegedly assaulted the men. Amidst the chaos, Asim Biswas managed to flee the scene. The remaining two were handed over to the local police outpost, though they were subsequently released from custody.
Legal Retaliation or Justice?
The situation took a litigious turn on April 1, when Asim Biswas’s wife, Nipa Biswas, filed a formal complaint at the Sadar Police Station. The lawsuit names eleven individuals and includes a further five or six unidentified suspects, accusing them of the physical assault of her husband.
However, the demonstrators at Friday’s protest—including local educators and community leaders—vehemently deny these allegations. They argue that the lawsuit is a tactical move designed to silence those who stood up against petty crime. Sukanta Goswami, a local schoolteacher named as a defendant, remarked:
“There has been a persistent wave of thefts in this area, leading to widespread public frustration. While it is true that an angry mob formed when the suspects were caught, those named in this suit were not the ones involved in the scuffle. We are being targeted simply because we helped catch the culprits.”
The Key Players and Their Stances
| Party Involved | Role / Identity | Primary Allegation / Defence |
| Asim Biswas | Accused Thief / Plaintiff’s Husband | Denies all theft charges; claims he was brutally assaulted due to personal enmity. |
| our representative | Accused Thief | Admits presence but claims he was misled by Asim into thinking the oil was a legitimate purchase. |
| Mosharraf Hossain | Excavator Owner | Confirms the theft occurred; expresses dismay that his helpers are now facing charges. |
| Nipa Biswas | Complainant | Alleges her husband was the victim of a premeditated and violent attack. |
| The Community | Protesters | Demand the immediate withdrawal of the “malicious” case and a fair investigation into the theft. |
A Surprising Admission
In a bizarre twist, our representative, one of the men originally accused of the theft, was seen participating in the human chain against the lawsuit. He claimed he was an unwitting accomplice, stating that Asim and Bikash had lured him to the site under the guise of buying oil.
Conversely, remains defiant, asserting his innocence with theatrical flair. “I loathe thieves,” he told reporters. “If anyone can prove I stole that oil, I will leave this country forever. I was beaten as part of a planned conspiracy.”
As the village remains on edge, the investigating officer, has declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings. For the residents of Hatiara, the incident has become a bitter lesson in the complexities of vigilante justice and the legal system.