Freedom fighter seeks justice for daughter's murder

Father of Mukti Khatun, 22, who was burnt to death allegedly by his rivals in Pabna, demanded justice for his daughter's murder yesterday.

Mozammel Haque, a freedom fighter, also demanded immediate arrest of the two key fugitive accused.

He said the accused and their family members are still threatening them with death. “As a freedom fighter, I want justice and seek safety and security for my family,” he said.

On August 19, a group of people allegedly led by Abdus Salam, president of ward-1 unit Awami League of Nagdemra union, attacked Mozammel's house in Santhia upazila. Failing to get him, the attackers set fire on Mukti after pouring petrol on her.

Mukti, a student at Government Edward College in Pabna, suffered 60 percent burns. She died from her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday.

Police have so far arrested 24 persons out of the 32 accused mentioned in the case filed by Mukti's family on August 20. But the two top accused -- Salam and Jahed Ali -- are still on the run.

Abdul Mazid, officer-in-charge of Santhia Police Station, said they are trying to arrest the duo.

Mozammel was speaking at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. Bangladesh Muktijuddho Gobeshona Kendra (BMGK) organised the event expressing solidarity with the demands.

Mozammel claimed that Salam was a Jamaat man. After Awami League came to power in 2008, Salam and many other BNP-Jamaat men joined the ruling party. “There is a political rivalry between us as he is a 'hybrid' Awami League man.”

Besides, Jahed, son of a local war criminal, wanted to take revenge against the freedom fighter as his father got killed by freedom fighters during the 1971 Liberation War, Mozammel claimed.

The families of the key accused and Mozammel had clashed several times in the past and also filed counter cases, according to locals.

Mukti's brother Nasir Uddin, present at the press conference, said they have been living in fear since the incident and are yet to go back to their house as they are getting threats from the relatives of the accused.

He also claimed that Salam's nephew, an expatriate, threatened him on Facebook.

Shahjahan Mridha, general secretary of BMGK, demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. “A freedom fighter is being hunted for killing in an independent country. His daughter was burnt to death. What does this indicate?” he said.

“We have no other expectations, just don't disrespect the freedom fighters,” he added.