Police: Gunfight victim was a JMB member

The youth killed in an alleged gunfight with the detectives in Rajshahi city early Tuesday had been involved in the murder of university teacher AFM Rezaul Karim Siddique, police said yesterday. The body of Nazrul Islam alias Bike Hassan has been identified by his family members. He is the son of Abdullah Mia from Sonarhat village under Debiganj in Panchagarh. It is the death of third suspect in the sensational murder case. Earlier, another JMB member was killed in an alleged gunfight while an Islami Chhatra Shibir leader died in police custody while undergoing treatment. “Nazrul was an active member of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and a fugitive accused in Prof Rezaul murder case,” Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson Ifte Khayer Alam said. Nazrul was one of the two wanted criminals on who the RMP authorities on July 29 declared Tk1 lakh bounty for each. His name was mentioned by JMB member Maskawat Hossain Sakib alias Abdullah who gave confessional statement in the case before a magistrate, police said. Abdullah was arrested on May 15. Assistant Commissioner Ifte Khayer said that a team of the DB police was challenged by a gang of criminals while conducting a raid in Ashrafer Mor area around 3am. The criminals opened fire and also hurled hand bombs at the police prompting the latter to retaliate with gunshots. Nazrul was found on the spot with bullet injuries while his cohorts managed to flee. Police also recovered a pistol and evidence of hand bombs. He was declared dead at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, the official added. Rajshahi University English teacher Prof Rezaul was hacked to death with machetes by two assailants coming on a motorcycle in an alley near his house in Shalbagan area around 7:30am on April 23. Besides teaching, Prof Rezaul was the editor of literary magazine “Komolgandhar” and adviser to a cultural organisation named “Shundorom.” He set up a music school in Shalbagan area and also wanted to start another at his village home. International militant organisation Islamic State claimed responsibility for the murder for “calling to atheism.” Police, however, claim that members of the JMB and Chhatra Shibir were behind the murder, and so far questioned a dozen suspects in the case. Police suspect that RU English department student Shariful Islam masterminded the killing. He could not be arrested as of yet. “Four JMB men were involved in the killing mission. Three of them hacked Prof Rezaul to death while the other was waiting for them near the killing site with a motorcycle,” RMP Commissioner Md Shamsuddin said earlier. Hafizur Rahman, a second year student of public administration department of Rajshahi University and secretary of Chhatra Shibir of Ward No 19, was arrested on April 23. He died while undergoing treatment at RMCH on May 17. On April 26, police arrested Raihan Ali, 32, the imam of Baghmara’s Dorgamaria village mosque, and Munsur Rahman, 48, a teacher of Gopalpur Madrasa – both under Bagmara of Rajshahi district. Police said Raihan had raised a group in the village to campaign against the music school. Another prime suspect, senior JMB member Tarek Hossain Milu alias Osman who took part in the murder, was killed in a gunfight with a joint team of DB police and the CT unit at Kalshi of Dhaka early on June 7. Osman was also involved in the bomb attack on Dinajpur’s Kantaji temple on December 4 last year, police claim.