Hundred days' probe gets job well done

AFM Mohitul Islam and Abdul Kahar Akand

Both the complainant and investigation officer (IO) of the Bangabandhu murder case are eager to see the earliest execution of the killers of Bangabandhu and want the government to bring back the six absconding killers as quickly as possible to ensure their punishment.
Complainant of the Bangabandhu murder case AFM Mohitul Islam says the verdict has reflected his expectation. “I believe the way I am delighted by the verdict the rest of the country feels the same,” he told The Daily Star at the Supreme Court premises soon after the verdict was delivered.
“The verdict has partially wiped away the shame brought upon the whole nation through the killing of Bangabandhu in 1975. It will be completely gone on the day this verdict is executed,” he said.
“I now expect that this verdict will come into effect as soon as possible and the absconding killers would be brought back soon and be meted out punishment,” Mohitul pointed out.
IO of the case, Additional Superintendent of Police at the Criminal Investigation Department Abdul Kahar Akand said, “I am satisfied with this verdict. My hard work in this case has been rewarded.”
“It took 100 days for me to investigate this case. It was a very hard task, especially because I had to collect evidence and witnesses after long 21 years of the assassination,” he said.
After the 1975 killings, evidences were destroyed deliberately under different governments. Amid such a challenging situation, how I could finish the investigation within 100 days now makes me really surprised,” Akand said while talking to The Daily Star at the Supreme Court premises yesterday.
During his investigation, Akand had interrogated around 1000 persons and examined dozens of witnesses.
“I even had to fly to Thailand to bring back convicted murderer Major Bazlul Huda (in 1998) several times and provide proofs and evidences to the Thai authorities that Huda was an escaped convict,” Akand said.
“Within the country, I have received many death threats over phones and through letters. I still have a letter from America that threatened me with death. They threatened not only me, but also my family members. I had hard times with my family during those days,” he said.
“Yet I feel I am very fortunate to be a part of such a historic trial,” he pointed out.
Akand lost his job in 2002 after the BNP-led alliance assumed power in October 2001. He got his job back in January 2009 through a lengthy legal process.
“Many of the convicts are now absconding. They must be brought back and punished. The government has already issued red notice through the Interpol in this regard. The government is active, but it needs a strong drive. As IO of this case, I am eager to see the implementation of the verdict.