Attack on UNO: Police hush hush about witnesses’ statements
A Dinajpur court has recorded testimonies of three witnesses under Section-164 in connection with a case filed over the attack on Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer.
The authorities, however, expressed their inability to share any further details of the testimonies with journalists.
The first testimony was recorded on Saturday while two more were recorded on Tuesday afternoon. Imam Zafar, investigation officer of the case, recorded the statements.
Contacted, none of the police officials in the district shared what the witnesses recorded in their testimonies.
This correspondent also visited the court but Raihan, an assistant to General Registrar Officer (GRO) of Dinajpur court, said he was asked not to give any information of the witnesses.
The Deputy Commissioner of Dinajpur also remained tight lip over the issue.
Such secretive attitudes of the authorities have been noticed ever since the arrest of Rabiul Islam, 30, suspended staffer of Ghoraghat Upazila Parishad.
According to sources, Rabiul was a staff of Nejarat Department of Dinajpur DC office.
Ashraful Islam, acting Nejarat of Dinajpur DC office, said Rabiul was sacked a long ago. He also denied to give any further detail.
Rabiul, however, visited the DC office on Wednesday and Thursday, said sources.
Mahmudul Alam, DC of Dinajpur, could not be reached after repeated attempts over phone.
The case was handed over to the DB in Dinajpur a day after Rab said Asadul Haq, Nabirul Islam and Santu Biswas were involved in the attack on the UNO.
After getting the charge, DB police took three persons, including Asadul Haq, a leader of ruling AL, in remand but sent them to jail without recording their statements.
At 1:10am on Thursday [September 10], police picked up Rabiul from his home at Dhamahar village in Biral Upazila of Dinajpur.
Rabiul was a suspended gardener of UNO office in Ghoraghat Upazila of Dinajpur. The distance between Rabiul's home and Ghoraghat UNO office is around 110km.
Rabiul's elder brother Azizar Rahamn claimed police took away Rabidul Islam, his wife Sabera Aktar and his brother Mohsin Ali.
Taking them somewhere, police forced them to admit that Rabiul attacked the UNO. Police were also looking for a red shirt at the Rabidul's home.
Later, the police took away four shirts and four trousers of Rabidul from home.
Besides, they took away two hammers from the house of Siddik Ali, father-in-law of Rabiul, who is a shallow machine repairman.
Rabidul's mother Rahima Khatun said he was at home on the day of the attack.
Meanwhile, at a press briefing, Debdas Bhattyachariya, the DIG of Rangpur Range police, also claimed that Rabiul admitted attacking the UNO.
He, however, did not give enough information at the briefing held at SP office on September 12.
Rezaur Rahman Rezu cultural activists of Dinajpur said that the investigation of Rab was on the right way.
"It is clear to everybody that police are making Rabiul as a scapegoat to save the criminal who executed the attack on the UNO."
On the other hand, Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan the Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur formed a three-member committee to investigate the reason behind the attack on the UNO.
Zakir Hossain, the additional divisional commissioner, was the head of the body.
It has been almost 15 days of the incident, the findings of the committee is yet to be disclosed.
This correspondent could not reach Zakir Hossain over phone after repeated attempts.
Even the Divisional Commissioner was also not receiving phone calls.
Comments