Mihir, now secretary of Magura Sadar upazila BNP, is on the run to evade arrest after joint forces raided his house soon after promulgation of emergency in January, police said.

A top police official however said they are hunting for him.

Mihir, a high school dropout, started life in early age as a bicycle mechanic. The family lived in a thatched house at Rawtara village in Hazrapur union in Magura Sadar upazila.

The party in power came a magic lamp for Mihir. "Mihir now owns over Tk one crore in cash and property which he has amassed through toll collection and other illegal means", said a former chairman of Hazrapur Union Parishad (UP) seeking anonymity.

Mihir's brother Mrinal, also an alleged outlaw, is now a wealthy businessman, said a resident of adjoining Gouricharanpur village.

"As a BCP cadre, he used to collect toll from local rich people at night earlier. When 4-party alliance came to power, he did it openly by virtue of being a front ranking BNP leader", said a school teacher.

Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) officials in Magura is also investigating the source of his assets amassed in last five years.

"We got some allegations and those were sent to higher authorities for directive", an ACC official said.

Allegations have that the outlawed turned BNP party leader amassed wealth by toll collection under the shelter of a former lawmaker from Magura-2 constituency.

On January 25, army cordoned the Bhaina area in Magura town to arrest Mihir. But they mistakenly took into custody district Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal president Nazmul Hasan Liton instead of Mihir. Mihir escape and is on the run since then.

"Joint forces' hunt for Mihir is on as he is accused in several criminal cases including murder", said Magura Police Superintendent Mohammad Muslim while talking tot this correspondent yesterday.

"Earlier, police could not take step against culprits like Mihir due to interference by the then ruling party leaders.

"After promulgation of emergency, police are now launching drives freely against criminals", the SP said.

A senior BNP leader who is also a lawyer blamed a former lawmaker and a former minister for sheltering and elevating a former outlaw to an important party post.

During Awami League (AL) rule, Mihir had to face police action several times and was imprisoned in cases for murder and toll collection, police records say.

Even during the 4-party alliance rule in 2002, Mihir had to go into hiding when army-led 'Operation Clean Heart' was launched, police sources said.