Minister's brother denied bail

The High Court yesterday refused to grant anticipatory bail to three top accused in the much-discussed Lokman Hossain murder case.
The three include the prime accused Salauddin Ahmed, the younger brother of Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju.
The two others are Murad Ahmed, assistant personal secretary to the telecommunications minister, and Montaz Uddin Bhuiyan, a Narsingdi Awami League leader.
All the three appeared before the court to seek bail, although they are "fugitive" according to the police.
Narsingdi police on several occasions told journalists that they could not arrest them, as the accused killers were on the run.
The HC said it could not accept their bail plea, as there are specific allegations against them of plotting the murder of Lokman, mayor of Narsingdi municipality. They can, however, move their petition before another bench, the court added.
"We are prisoners of conscience. Bail cannot be granted," said the bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Syed Mohammad Dastagir Hossain.
"Killing of a popular municipal mayor in this way is rare. Is it the case that good people cannot live in this country?" the court added.
Advocate Anisul Huq appeared for the three petitioners.
Standing for the government, Deputy Attorney General Md Salim opposed the bail prayers.
Meanwhile, Masudur Rahman Tippon, who according to the police is one of the main suspects in the murder, was taken on an eight-day remand yesterday.
Masudur, a former member of Narsingdi district AL, was arrested on Saturday from Gopalganj.
A "close aide" of the slain Lokman, he is accused in more than nine cases, including five for murder.
Earlier on November 8, police detained one Selim from Tongi on the outskirts of the capital.
Lokman, a two-time gold medallist as the best mayor, was assassinated in the district AL office on Sadar Road on November 1.
Two weeks on, police have yet to arrest any of the 14 accused in the case filed by Lokman's family.
Law enforcers, however, held two people including Masudur in this connection although neither of the two was made accused in the case.
But district Superintendent of Police Khandaker Mohid Uddin yesterday claimed that the two were involved in the killing.
Asked about Masudur's crime records, Narsingdi Model Police Station Officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain said besides his involvement in criminal activities, Masudur also maintained arms networks in different areas.