DB takes over investigation
Lokman Hossain
Awami League leaders and lawmakers in Narsingdi yesterday asked Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju to clarify what would be his role in bringing the killers of mayor Lokman Hossain to justice.
Family members of the slain mayor and many ruling party men in the district alleged that the killing was the result of a conflict between Raju and Lokman.
Salauddin Ahmed Bachchu, the minister's younger brother, has been named as the prime accused in the case filed for the murder.
Also yesterday, police sent the murder case to the Detective Branch for a “thorough investigation”. AL insiders said it would be listed as a sensitive case in the home ministry for quick disposal.
Two other cases relating to vandalism and arson during protests over Lokman's death have been filed against some 500 unidentified persons.
Against this backdrop, Lokman's brother Shamim Newaz, also general secretary of Narsingdi district Chhatra League, and SM Kaioum, a close aide to Lokman and former central vice-president of Chhatra League, will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the capital today.
“We will tell the prime minister everything in detail. The minister and his brother had threatened Lokman several times,” Kaioum told The Daily Star.
Lokman Hossain, also general secretary of Narsingdi city AL, was shot dead by an unidentified gang at the district AL office on Tuesday.
His family and friends suspect Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju and his brother Salauddin were behind the killing.
The minister, now on an official tour abroad, gave a statement on Thursday night, saying the murder was part of a “deep-rooted conspiracy” against AL.
“Vested interests are creating confusion to hide the real culprits,” said Raju, also a lawmaker from Narsingdi-5.
While addressing a protest rally at Narsingdi town, local lawmakers and ruling party leaders yesterday said the minister must clarify his stance.
“He [the minister] has to say who has killed Lokman and what will be his role to identify the killers. We need to see what steps he takes,” said Zahirul Haque Mahon, MP from Narsingdi-3.
He said the killers must be brought to book no matter how powerful they are. “None will be spared even if he is a ruling party man. You [Raju] have to make clear your position.”
Nurul Majid Humayun, lawmaker from Narsingdi-4, urged the minister to take necessary measures to find out the killers.
Lt Col (retd) Nazrul Islam Hiru, MP from Narsingdi-1, said, “We cannot sleep in peace unless those who plotted the murder are punished.”
Anwarul Ashraf Khan, MP from Narsingdi-2, insisted on holding a proper investigation into the killing of Lokman and said, “The killers can never be our friends.”
Shamim Newaz alleged the administration had shown negligence when the mayor was taken to hospital.
“People will resist those who wanted to establish dominance in Narsingdi politics through the killing of Lokman,” he also said.
Several thousand leaders, workers, supporters and common people attended the rally, wearing black badges. District AL President Asaduzzaman presided over the gathering.
Security was tight in the district town, 52km off the capital, with a large number of Rab and police personnel present at different points.
The police authorities have assigned Officer-in-Charge Mamunur Rashid of Narsingdi DB to probe the much-talked-about Lokman Hossain murder.
“Police yesterday handed over the case to the district Detective Branch, considering its importance,” SM Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Narsingdi Model Police Station, told this correspondent.
Asked if there was any progress in the case after it was filed on Thursday night, Anwar Hossain said they hunted all night long for the accused. “But we could arrest nobody.”
“All the accused left their houses, sensing that they might be named in the murder case,” Anwar said.
Meanwhile, Maran Chandra Das, the station master of Narsingdi Sadar Train Station, in the early hours of Thursday filed a case in connection with vandalising and torching of the train station on Tuesday night.
Another case was filed by the guard of Egaro Sindur Express with the GRP Bhairab Station for burning several coaches of the train Wednesday.
Yesterday, Meher Afroze Chumki, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on woman and child affairs ministry, met Nusrat Tamanna Bubli, wife of Lokman Hossain, at the latter's Narsingdi residence.
Nusrat urged Chumki to ensure the trial of her husband's assassins and sought the prime minister's help in this regard.
“The killers will be tried,” replied Chumki, calling on all not to lose patience.
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