Arrest 3 Rab officers: HC

The High Court today directed the government to arrest three Rapid Action Battalion officials who were sent to retirement for their alleged role in the killing of Narayanganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam in exchange of Tk 6 crore.

The inspector general of police has been ordered to comply with the order immediately and hand over the Rab officials to Detective Branch of police who are investigating the incident at present.

The HC passed the order in response to a writ petition moved by two lawyers of Narayanganj and a relative of advocate Chandan Sarker, one of the seven victims who were abducted from Narayanganj Adalatpara on April 27 and killed later.

Former commanding officer of Rab-11 Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad, Maj Arif Hossain and Lt Commander SM Masud Rana have already been pulled back from Rab-11.

On April 27, some people abducted Narayanganj City Corporation councilor and panel mayor Nazrul Islam and his four associates with their car. Senior lawyer Chandan Sarker and his driver, who were following the abductors, were also kidnapped the same time from the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road.

Six bodies, including that of Nazrul and Chandan, were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river on April 30, and another was found the following day.

Today, the HC also issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to amend the existing law regulating profession activities of law enforcers including Rab.

As allegations surfaced that Rab officials murdered the abductees in exchange of huge bribe, the home ministry withdrew Rab-11 CO and three police officials two days after the abductions. Later, two more Rab officials were withdrawn.

The armed forces pulled back the trio from the elite force and attached them to the Log Rea.

Lt Col Tareque, the CO, is the son-in-law of Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.

On May 4, Nazrul's father-in-law Shahidul Islam told journalists that Nur Hossain, vice president of Siddhirganj Thana unit of ruling Awami League, and some Rab men paid Rab officials Tk 6 crore for abducting and killing Nazrul.

He also alleged that a son of a powerful minister brokered the deal with some Rab men to kill Nazrul.

Two days later, Rab chief Mukhlesur Rahman said that if any Rab officer is found involved in the brutal killings, the elite force would not try to protect him.

On May 5, the government formed the seven-member committee to probe the abduction and killing of the seven.

Today, three people including two Narayanganj lawyers filed a petition with the HC seeking directives for the government to form a judicial committee headed by a former chief justice or sitting judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to monitor the probe being carried out by the government-formed committee.

The petitioners are: Shakhawat Hossain Khan and Mahubur Rahman, lawyers of Nayayanganj, and Bijoy Kumar Paul, a relative of advocate Chandan Sarker.

The secretaries of home and law ministries and Jatiya Sangsad have been made respondents to the rule.