Death of Hefajat Leader Shafi
PBI officials visit Hathazari madrasa
Say they will submit probe report on time as per court directive
Officials of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Chattogram visited Al Jameyatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa, commonly known as Hathazari madrasa, yesterday to probe into the case filed over the death of Hefajat-e Islam's former chief Shah Ahmad Shafi.
A team of PBI, led by its Chattogram special superintendent (SSP) of Police Md Iqbal Hossen and SP Nazmul Hasan, reached Hathazari around 11am.
Hefazat ameer Junayed Babunagri welcomed the investigators, said madrasa sources.
"As part of the investigation, we talked to 15 to 16 persons, including Babunagari," said SP Nazmul.
SSP Iqbal said police will submit its report on time as per a court directive, after completing investigation over the death. "We visited the places mentioned in the case statements and collected information talking to relevant persons of the madrasa," he added.
Babunagari did not make any comment over the visit. "They [PBI officials] are our guests and we will always welcome them if they come to the madrasa for further investigation," he said while talking to journalists.
Shafi, who often drew controversy for opposing women's rights, passed away on September 18 last year.
His death came a day after he resigned as director general of Hathazari madrasa, following two days of student unrest.
Shafi's brother-in-law Md Moin Uddin filed the case with the court of Judicial Magistrate Shiplu Kumar Dey of Chattogram on December 17, 2020, claiming that Shafi was murdered in a "pre-planned manner".
The court then directed PBI in Chattogram to investigate the case and submit a report to it within a month.
In the case statement, Moin Uddin alleged that Shafi was killed in a pre-planned manner through collaboration between the accused at the direct and indirect instigation by Mamunul Haque, joint secretary general of Hefajat, and Nasir Uddin, a top Hefajat leader.
"Shafi was mentally tortured and his oxygen support was removed. Apart from that, the ambulance carrying him while he was in a critical condition was stopped on its way to the hospital. All these killed my brother-in-law," Moin Uddin told The Daily Star.