Ex-Freedom Party leader Maj Zainul arrested
Khulna district Jail has been placed on high alert as Maj (retd) Zainul Abedin Khan, a close associate of Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda, a convicted killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, landed in a cell after his arrest on Wednesday.
Khulna police arrested the retired army officer, a fugitive, from a house in Nirala residential area in the city.
Maj (retd) Zainul, who was a commander in the Sector No. 9 during the liberation war, has been wanted in 11 criminal cases, including murder and possession of huge arms and ammunition.
The retired army officer, who hails from Satgharia village in Louhajang, Munshiganj, will be sent to Trishal police station in Mymensingh in connection with a case filed by SI Nurul Amin on February 12 in 1990 against him and 22 others of Freedom Party under Special Powers Act and Explosive Substances Act.
According to the FIR recorded with the Trishal police station, Maj (retd) Zainul, who was a leader of the Freedom Party, was arrested along with 16 others, including Maj (Retd) Bazlul, in Trishal on February 11 in 1990 as he fired shots at a mob while trying to speed away in a car to evade mob attack.
A businessman identified as Harun-ar Rashid was killed and seven others were injured in the firing.
Later, the police seized from their possession a single barrel gun, 27 cartridges, a 2.2 bore rifle and 37 bullets, one .32 bore pistol and 26 bullets, one .25 bore pistol and three bullets, an axe, two large daggers, eight knives, several clubs made of seasoned wood and hockey sticks, three private cars and a microbus.
However, Maj (retd) Zainul was released on bail 18 months after his arrest. Since then he had been on large.
The investigation officer had also submitted a charge sheet against him.
Officer-in-Charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station Sheikh Munirul Gias said Maj (retd) Zainul had been wanted in a case filed with Khulna Sadar Police Station, in four cases filed with Mirpur Police Station and four other cases filed with Motijheel Police Station in Dhaka, and in a murder case filed with Mymensingh Sadar Police Station.
According to freedom fighters in the Khulna city, Maj (retd) Zainul established a religion-based NGO styled 'Islami Umma' and he was its chairman.
But he had to shut down the NGO in 1992 in the wake of allegations brought by a large number of its officials and employees that he misappropriated a huge amount from its funds.
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