Jahangir serves Ofaz's sentence

In the film ‘Aynabaji’, the protagonist takes a convict's place in jail in exchange of money. And now life imitates art in Gazipur.

A man named Jahangir Alam went to jail in place of a convict, Ofaz Uddin, two months ago in Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur. Ofaz Uddin was accused of illegally taking over land belonging to the forest department and was accordingly sentenced to two years in jail last year.

According to the forest department officials, Ofaz Uddin had been living in Bishwaspara for long. He built a house on the forest department’s land and was accused of selling government land as well.

The forest department filed a case against him in 2006 and the court sentenced him to two years impriosnment on 7 July 2018. Ofaz went into hiding after the verdict.
Local people said Ofaz convinced Jahangir to surrender in his stead for Tk 300,000. He also promised Jahagir to arrange bail.

Jahangir, 30, was a driver and drug addict. He lived in Kholapara village in Kaliakair upazila. He is now in Kashimpur High Security Prison.
The Prothom Alo Correspondent went to find Ofaz Uddin at the jail on Sunday when Jahangir revealed his actual identity.

Jahangir later explained the incident to the correspondent.

Ofaz Uddin told him to surrender in court as Ofaz and seek bail three months ago, Jahangir said.

The court sent him to jail rejecting the bail plea, he added.

Ofaz Uddin’s mobile phone is switched off. His son told the correspondent that his father was on the run since the court verdict.

The inspector of Gazipur court said, Ofaz was now accused of fraudulence with the court.

Jahangir's mother said her son hadn't come home for two months.

The family came to know that Jahangir was in jail, though they did not know the reason, she added.

The public prosecutor in the case, Rezaul Karim, told Prothom Alo, Jahangir would be released if the relevant documents proved his innocence in the court.