Two rope sellers give judicial statements

Two traders of jute goods in Narayanganj yesterday gave judicial statements to a court over the abduction and killing of seven people in the district in late April.

Abdul Matin and Shahjahan Saju of Adamjee Sona Mia Market area in Siddhirganj told the court about the persons who bought ropes and sacks from them on a night before the bodies of the seven were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river, stuffed in sacks and their hands and legs tied, said Mamunur Rashid Mandal, the investigation officer.

Senior Judicial Magistrate HM Shafiqul Islam recorded their statements.

The seven people including Narayanganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker were abducted on April 27 in Narayanganj. Their bodies weighted down by bricks were found in the river on April 30 and May 1.

Three top officials of Rapid Action Battalion-11, stationed in Narayanganj, were fired over their alleged involvement in the murders.

Later, the sacked three--Lt Col Tarek Syed Mahmud, Maj Arif Hossain, and Lt Commander MM Rana--gave confessional statements to the court.

Meanwhile, the main accused, Nur Hossain, was arrested on June 14 in Kolkata of West Bengal for illegal entry into India. He is in jail there now.