Mastermind still at large

Three weeks into the killing of Narsingdi mayor Lokman Hossain, police have yet to arrest the masterminds behind the murder.
Law enforcers have so far captured seven people in this connection. Of them, only one was implicated in the case, while the six others were arrested on suspicion.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju's brother is the prime accused while former Narsingdi mayor Matin Sarkar is the number two accused in the first information report (FIR) filed by Lokman's brother Kamruzzaman.
Of the 14 accused, 13, including the top ten accused, are on the run.
The sole accused arrested so far is Matin's brother Ashraf Sarkar, who is the number 11 accused.
The FIR said the top ten accused plotted the murder and gave orders to kill Lokman.
Ashraf was the first to shoot Lokman in the district Awami League office on November 1, the FIR added.
Expressing frustration, Lokman's family yesterday told The Daily Star they do not believe that those arrested so far were involved in plotting the assassination.
They said they had been asking the investigators to check the call list of the telecom minister and his brother for clue. “But investigators are not doing that,” Shamim Newaz, the youngest brother of Lokman, said over the phone yesterday.
He also said that for the last 22 days they had been trying to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to seek her help in getting justice, but they were yet to get an appointment.
On those arrested except for Ashraf, he said, “We never heard of them.”
“Maybe they were hired. Any criminal can be hired, but we want to see the masterminds behind the killing arrested,” said Kamruzzaman.
Asked, Narsingdi Superintendent of Police Kh Mahid Uddin yesterday said, “We don't want to comment on the masterminds or the prime accused at this stage.”
However, he said the investigation was progressing well.
Asked about involvement of Salauddin, he said, “We're proceeding according to the information we are getting.”
The newly appointed SP said there are many factors including political, social, financial, family affairs and business behind the killing.
SELIM REMANDED AGAIN
A Narsingdi court yesterday granted another three-day remand for Haji Selim, who was arrested on November 8 in connection with the murder.
He was earlier taken on eight days' remand in two phases.