Eminent citizens want ‘credible investigation’

Eminent citizens yesterday called for “credible investigation” into the attempted murder on Liberation War Museum Trustee Sarwar Ali, saying such an attack was carried out to shrink space for freethinking and progressive movements.

Investigators have to find out the persons involved in the incident and ensure their exemplary punishment, they said at a protest rally.

Pro-Liberation War platform Sammilita Samajik Andolon (SSA) arranged the rally in front of National Museum in the capital.

Two criminals attempted to kill Sarwar, also a physician and prominent cultural activist, at his home in the city’s Uttara on the night of January 5.

Sarwar escaped unhurt but his family members and two neighbours sustained minor injuries in the incident.

Sarwar said a militant group might have carried out the attack. He filed a case with Uttara Paschim Police Station over the incident.

Addressing the rally, National Professor Anisuzzaman said it is a failure of the country’s democratic movement that those who practice and talk about freethinking and want to uphold the spirit of the Liberation War are not always safe in the country.

Eminent rights activist Sultana Kamal  said the present political culture in Bangladesh reflects that it is gradually turning hostile for the believers of the spirit of Liberation War.

Those who fought the Liberation War, contributed to achieving the country’s independence and stood for upholding the spirit of the Liberation War now have to say that they are gradually becoming “minorities” in the country, she said.

“We are noticing repeated attacks on those working for upholding the spirit of the Liberation War and these attacks are not being stopped,” she added.

Politicians Pankaj Bhattacharya and Nazmul Haque Pradhan, economist Prof MM Akash, SSA President Ziauddin Tariq Ali, and rights activists Khushi Kabir and Rekha Chowdhury, among others, addressed the rally.

PBI nabs a suspect

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) yesterday said they arrested a suspect of the murder attempt from the city’s Uttara.

Special Superintendent Bashir Ahmed of PBI (Dhaka Metro) said suspect Md Forhad (18), was a day labourer but joined the group after being lured by the mastermind Nazmul Hossain, who previously worked as Sarwar’s chauffer.

At a press briefing at PBI office yesterday, Bashir said Forhad was outside the building when two attackers went to Sarwar’s house on the day.

“So far we found that it was a robbery incident,” he said.

“However, after arresting other attackers and the mastermind, we will be able to conclude whether there was any other motive behind it,” he added.

Quoting the suspect, PBI officials said Nazmul, who is on the run, told his cohorts that there is money and gold ornaments in Sarwar’s house and promised to share those after robbery.

The attackers held at least two meetings in two hotels in Ashkona area on January 4 and January 5, they said.

PBI officials said apart from Nazmul, they have identified five other attackers. Police were trying to arrest them.

Earlier, law enforcers arrested a security guard of the building and a driver of Sarwar’s family car in connection with the attack.