"You son of the cursed Hindu! Why do you do BNP politics? You are supposed to align with Awami League. Say that you’ll abandon your BNP affiliations and we'll ensure you go up within the Awami League ranks. If you refuse, we’ll just get rid of you" shouted the policeman as he forcefully seized and squeezed Sourav's testicles. Agony enveloped Sourav, rendering him speechless as he lapsed into unconsciousness under the relentless onslaught of the police.

However, Sourav didn't give up. Despite the excruciating pain, he defiantly retorted, "I espouse the politics of Bangladeshi nationalism, not religious nationalism. BNP does the politics of Bangladeshi nationalism. Even in the face of death, I shall not waver from my ideals." With that, Sourav Priya Pal succumbed to unconsciousness. The police splashed water on his face to regain his consciousness and started beating up again.

Formerly serving as the Vice President of Chittagong Mohanagar Chhatra Dal, Sourav currently holds no official position within the party due to the absence of a committee. Nonetheless, he remains actively engaged in BNP politics in Chittagong.

Sourav Priya Pal, born on October 7, 1987 in Kutubdia Upazila of Cox's Bazar district, is the fifth child of Suren Pal and Shilu Pal, a retired government official in the telecom department. Raised in Khagrachari due to his father's occupation, Sourav completed his secondary education at Rani Nihar Devi Government High School in Manikchari Upazila and higher secondary education at Manikchari Government College.

Graduating in Chemistry from Chittagong University in 2012, Sourav's pursuit of post-graduation was thwarted by political persecution. Nevertheless, he obtained an LLB degree from Law Temple in Chittagong in 2018.

Combining academic excellence with political activism, Sourav delved into Chhatra Dal politics during his college years under the guidance of Khagrachari BNP leader Wadud Bhuiya. Progressing through the ranks, he assumed leadership roles within the university unit of Chhatra Dal, ultimately being elected Vice President when the Chittagong Mohanagar Chhatra Dal committee was fully constituted in 2013.

Sourav's political journey has been marred by adversity, enduring relentless attacks and imprisonment at the hands of the ruling Awami League and law enforcement. He currently faces seven politically motivated legal cases and has recounted tales of torture inflicted upon him in interviews with Bangla Outlook's Dhaka representative.

Bangla Outlook: Could you share the story of how you got involved in politics?

Sourav Priya Pal: It was a serendipitous incident. Back in the hills where I studied, our Member of Parliament at the time was Wadud Bhuiyan. I started becoming active in student organizations right after completing my SSC exams. Then, when I enrolled at Chittagong University in 2008, my interest and affection for the organization only grew stronger.

Bangla Outlook: How did you come to the forefront of politics?

Sourav Priya Pal: In 2009, during my second year of university, the Awami League assumed power following the national elections. Shortly thereafter, the Chhatra League initiated a reign of terror on campus. Then, in late 2010—I can't recall the precise date—8 to 10 BCL members launched a vicious attack on me in the Kata Pahar area of the campus. They beat me severely and even stabbed me in the thigh before fleeing the scene. Thankfully, my classmates intervened, rushing me to the university health centre and subsequently to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Following that ordeal, I found it challenging to actively participate in campus politics.

Bangla Outlook: Despite the challenges, how did you persist in your political endeavours?

Sourav Priya Pal: Despite facing numerous instances of police brutality and attacks from the ruling party, I remained actively engaged in Chittagong metropolitan politics. I've endured multiple episodes of police torture and assaults, yet I refused to retreat from the political arena. If anything, each adversity only bolstered my courage and resilience. I continue to navigate the political landscape with unwavering determination and fortitude.

Bangla Outlook: How many times have you faced severe attacks resulting in injuries?

Sourav Priya Pal: There have been at least four occasions where I sustained serious injuries due to attacks. Additionally, there have been numerous other instances of assaults. However, four times the injuries were particularly severe.

One notable incident occurred at the end of 2014 during an attack on the BNP office in Chittagong City. We were participating in a party program, marching in procession when the police launched an assault. Some of us sought refuge in the Nasiman Bhavan party office, where even female party workers were not spared from the brutality of the male policemen. We were beaten unconscious, and despite the valiant efforts of the women party workers, the police showed no mercy. Fortunately, I managed to evade arrest at that time.

In 2019, during preparations for a protest march against the unjust verdict in a false case against the acting chairman of our party by the Mohanagar Chhatra Dal, the police obstructed our exit from the party office. As we attempted to leave, they launched a sudden attack from behind, wielding black sticks. I fell to the ground, sustaining a severe blow to my spine which resulted in fractures. Despite extensive treatment, my recovery has been slow, and I still rely on a neck collar as the bones in my spine remain unhealed.

Bangla Outlook: How many times have you been arrested or detained by the police?

Sourav Priya Pal: I have been arrested many times, again released on the street. However, one particular instance that remains etched in my memory is the events of November 29, 2023. It's something I can never forget.

Bangla Outlook: Could you recount what happened on that day?

Sourav Priya Pal: It was during the lead-up to the 12th National Assembly elections, and like elsewhere in the country, we were organizing a blockade program in Chittagong, demanding the government's resignation and elections under a neutral administration. In the morning, I led a student procession from Kazirdeuri to Lalkhan Bazar in the city. As the procession concluded and the workers dispersed, I found myself surrounded by 8 to 10 policemen on motorcycles clad in white attire. Alongside me were four other party colleagues. Without warning, they pounced on us, arresting us on the spot. They threw me to the ground and subjected me to a merciless beating. Soon after, several police jeeps arrived at the scene. We were loaded into a van; an officer singled me out, instructing me to enter a separate prison van while the remaining four were left in the police pickup van.

Bangla Outlook: Did they then take you to the police station?

Sourav Priya Pal: No, they didn't. As they ushered me into the prison van, they bound my hands tightly behind my back with handcuffs. I couldn't comprehend why I was being singled out for such treatment. Inside the van, they hurled verbal abuse at me before unleashing a brutal assault. There were numerous wooden planks inside the van, which they used to mercilessly strike every fleshy part of my body. The assailants, all clad in police uniforms, included two officers and three constables, none of whom wore nameplates. As I cried out in agony from the relentless beating, one of them grabbed my face while two others restrained me from either side, allowing the remaining two to pummel my legs. After enduring the onslaught for what felt like an eternity, my body went numb, and I lost all sensation. I collapsed, utterly paralyzed by the excruciating pain.

Bangla Outlook: What transpired afterwards?

Sourav Priya Pal: They were abusing me in very vulgar language. I am Hindu. They were abusing my religion. One of them was saying, "Why don't you join the Awami League? Being a child of Hindu, why do you do BNP? What does BNP give you?" I used to write on social media. Referring to that, they said to me, 'Would you write more on Facebook? Would you say more against the government? Want to write more under the pseudonym of Nawfel?' I had filed a case in court as a defendant in the attack by the Awami League and police on our party office. Mentioning the matter of that case, they beat me and said, "Would you file a case against the Awami League anymore?"

Bangla Outlook: Did you protest against their derogatory remarks about your religion?

Sourav Priya Pal: No, there was no opportunity to protest. How could I speak up when they were assaulting me and hurling insults at my parents? I was rendered speechless by the brutality of their attack. They beat me so severely that I was left paralyzed. Meanwhile, one of them received a phone call and boasted about the violence inflicted upon me, referring to me as a 'dog' and 'son of a bitch'. After enduring their merciless beating for what seemed like an eternity, they finally dumped me in the prison van and departed.

Bengali Outlook: What happened next?

Sourav Priya Pal: Following that, three to four individuals dressed in white approached. I was seated on the floor of the van, too weak to even stand. They commenced a barrage of slaps and punches all over my body. One of them kicked me in the groin, rendering me immobile. Though I couldn't cry out, tears welled up in my eyes. They continued to torture me in that van for about three agonizing hours as I lay sprawled on the floor, utterly helpless and unaware of our destination. I wasn't blindfolded, just handcuffed. By noon, they finally transported me to the police station.

Bengali Outlook: How did the police treat you?

Sourav Priya Pal: At the Kotwali police station, they registered my name and details. However, I was unable to walk, so two officers carried me on with my arms around their neck and escorted me inside. Others who were apprehended with me had already been confined. After some time, they pulled me out again, but I couldn't stand on my own. I was warned not to resist as they dragged me to an adjacent room where they took photographs of me. Throughout this ordeal, the police continued to assault me. When I could no longer remain upright, an officer instructed, "Get him treated. He needs to go to the hospital." Around 4 PM, four or five officers escorted me to Chittagong General Hospital, still handcuffed. They accompanied me as I struggled to walk.

Bangla Outlook: What did the doctor say?

Sourav Priya Pal: The doctor asked what happened, and I replied that I had been severely assaulted. However, the police present there refuted my claim, stating that some injuries occurred during a scuffle. Nonetheless, the doctor observed bruises and swelling in various parts of my body, including my private parts. He administered injections and prescribed medications before I was taken back to the police station.

Bangla Outlook: Were you taken back to the police station and subjected to further torture?

Sourav Priya Pal: No, I was taken to court in the evening. The court sent me to jail. The following day, I appeared in court again, where the police requested a five-day remand. My lawyer presented evidence of the injuries on my body, which surprised the court, leading to the denial of the remand. Instead, the court directed the jail authorities to ensure my treatment.

Bangla Outlook: What treatment did you receive in prison?

Sourav Priya Pal: For the first three days, I received treatment at the prison hospital. However, on the fourth day, the jail superintendent visited me and demanded to see my case card. Upon reviewing it, he informed me that I couldn't stay in the hospital as I was accused of an arson case. Despite my deteriorating health, I was speechless. The jail superintendent took my case card and stated that the jail doctor would speak to me the following morning.

Bangla Outlook: What happened the next day?

Sourav Priya Pal: The next morning, the doctor summoned me and regretfully informed me that I couldn't stay in the hospital. A doctor named Reza apologized to me, explaining that they couldn't keep me due to pressure from the City branch of SB police and various intelligence agencies. I was overcome with emotion and tears. I couldn't even lie on the floor due to my existing back problems exacerbated by the lack of pillows. I spent 59 days in such conditions with untreated wounds from police torture and a fractured spine. Consequently, my spine condition worsened, and I was denied my basic right to medical treatment. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues have faced similar ordeals.

Bangla Outlook: How does your family perceive these challenges?

Sourav Priya Pal: When I was arrested, my parents were out of the country, and none of my other family members or relatives knew my whereabouts. The political situation prevented my brother from joining a government service despite passing the exam, while my sister, a school teacher, was denied government payroll MPO because of my political affiliation. Despite my father's years of service as a government employee to support our family of six siblings, I feel helpless for not being able to do anything for my parents. At times, it feels as though I am their only child. However, my family remains undeterred by these adversities and continues to support my involvement in politics. Ironically, local Awami League members refer to my family as the "Hindu Razakar family."

Bangla Outlook: Despite facing such challenges, do you still maintain an interest in politics?

Sourav Priya Pal: Nationalist ideology and politics are inherently about consciousness. BNP embodies the ideals of the Liberation War, representing the freedom fighters' group led by the martyred President Ziaur Rahman. This commitment to liberation war ideals is one reason for my allegiance to this ideological politics. Additionally, the BNP upholds the belief that all Bangladeshis, regardless of caste, religion, or creed, share a common identity. BNP advocates for Bangladeshi nationalism, rejecting any form of nationalism based on religious or ethnic divisions. Since independence, the current authoritarian Awami League government has been accused of exploiting the Hindu community for political gains. I've heard from our predecessors that the most severe persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh occurred between 1972 and 1975. Moreover, during the Babri Masjid crisis in 1992, when the BNP was in power, there were instances of temple destruction orchestrated by leaders of the Awami League to discredit the BNP. Since 2009, Awami League members have been implicated in various communal attacks. I urge all my fellow religious community members to examine these issues closely. As traditionalists, we refuse to be manipulated by others and reject living at their mercy. Recently, in the case of the temple vandalism in Begamganj, Noakhali, a Hindu named Kamaksha Chandra Das was accused solely because of his affiliation with the BNP. Therefore, BNP stands as a platform for the liberation of people of all religions.

Bangla Outlook: Thank you.

Sourav Priya Pal: Thank you to Bangla Outlook as well.