Narsingdi MPs irked by Nazrul's remarks

Awami League lawmaker Nazrul Islam's comment favouring Salauddin Ahmed, the prime accused in Narsingdi mayor Lokman Hossain murder case, has irked other AL lawmakers of the district.
Salauddin is the younger brother of Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju.
Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina on November 5 had asked Raju and three other AL lawmakers from Narsingdi not to do or say anything that might influence or hinder the investigation into the sensational case.
But Nazrul Islam, elected from Narsingdi-1, on Thursday told journalists that Raju's brother Salauddin was a good person, and that he could not be involved in the killing. He also raised questions on the first information report of the case.
Nazrul made the remark after emerging from the monthly meeting of the district's law and order committee at the deputy commissioner's office.
However, three other AL lawmakers who also attended the meeting told The Daily Star yesterday that they disown Nazrul's view.
The three MPs are Anwarul Ashraf Khan, Zahirul Haque Mahon and Nurul Majid Humayun.
“He [Nazrul Islam] should not make such comments, especially one involving the main accused of the murder,” Anwarul Ashraf Khan told this correspondent over the phone last night.
“What he had said was his personal opinion. We should wait till the investigation is complete,” Zahirul Haque Mahon said, adding that only a fair investigation would reveal who were involved in the murder.
Nurul Majid Humayun echoed their views.
Meanwhile, Nazrul yesterday backtracked on his Thursday's comment.
"A newspaper has concocted my remarks," he said at Lokman's doa mahfil at Shapla Chattar in Narsingdi.
Without naming any, he said, “That newspaper wants to separate me from Lokman Hossain's family.”
However, several leading national dailies and news agencies quoting Nazrul reported that he believed Salauddin and Masudur Rahman Murad, an assistant personal secretary of the telecommunications minister, cannot be involved in the killing.
“I demand bringing the perpetrators involved in the murder to book through a fair probe,” Nazrul said yesterday.
Also at the doa mahfil, Lokman's youngest brother Shamim Newaz said the people of Narsingdi will be forced to launch a movement if the real culprits are not brought to justice.
A two-time gold medallist as the best mayor, Lokman was shot by unidentified criminals inside the district Awami League office on Sadar Road on November 1. After a three-hour battle for life, he succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Two days later, Lokman's brother filed a murder case accusing 14 people including Salauddin and Murad.
Talking to The Daily Star, Lokman's family members expressed shock at Nazrul's remark.
“If he [Nazrul] knows that the minister's brother and his assistant personal secretary were not involved in the murder, then why he is not telling the names of the perpetrators,” one of them said preferring anonymity.