The issue of arresting the three former RAB officials suspected of their involvement in the Narayanganj seven murders still seems wrapped in mysteries even after four days of the High Court order for their arrest.
None of the authorities – the Home Ministry, the police, the Armed Forces Division and the Directorate of the Inter-Services Public Relations – have so far made their stances clear and explained the delay in arresting the trio. They have been rather engaged in pushing the ball in another’s court.
Meanwhile, the high-powered probe committee formed to investigate the seven murders in Narayanganj submitted its primary progress report to the High Court, but details from the report were not revealed.
The Home Ministry and police have been claiming that they are following the “required procedure,” but have not yet elaborated what procedures they have completed so far.
Attorney General Mahbub-e-Alam yesterday claimed that the delay in arresting the former RAB officials would not be a contempt of court as the court did not fix any timeframe for the arrest.
The High Court on Sunday ordered the arrests of former RAB 11 commanding officer Lt Col Tarek Sayeed Mohammad, Maj Arif Hossain and Lt Commander MM Rana.
On April 27, seven people, including Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarkar, were abducted; their bodies were found floating in the Shitalakkhya River after three days.
The three RAB officers were sent on forced retirement on April 30 after Nazrul’s father-in-law Shahidul Islam alleged that RAB had abducted and killed the seven people in exchange for Tk6 crore.
State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday denied any delay in the arrest of the three former RAB officers, saying: “We are following the High Court order and will carry it out.”
He had earlier said the RAB officers had been kept under watch. But he did not disclose their whereabouts.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, Maj Gen (retd) KM Safiullah, former chief of Bangladesh Army, said: “According to the rules, after an official of Bangladesh Army or Bangladesh Navy is sent on forced retirement or premature retirement, he or she would still remain in touch with the Armed Forces Division for a specific period to enjoy the facilities they are entitled to.”
He said: “During the period, the police require to take the AFD’s permission to arrest any such personnel. However, if there is any order from the High Court, it should be obeyed.”
When contacted, Khandaker Mahid Uddin, superintendent of police in Narayanganj, said all required steps had been taken to execute the High Court order regarding the arrest and that the arrests would be made whenever the steps were implemented.
He, however, did not answer when asked what types of steps the police had taken.
Shahin Anam, information officer of the ISPR, said he had no update on the procedures for the arrest of the former army and navy officials.
He suggested that this reporter should talk to Mohammad Wahiduzzaman, the chief staff officer of the AFD, who however said he was not dealing with the matter.
Asaduzzaman bins media reports
The home state minister yesterday denied dilly-dallying over arresting the three former officers of Rapid Action Battalion who were allegedly involved in the abduction and killing of seven people in Narayanganj.
“We are following the High Court order and will carry it out,” he told reporters after a meeting at his ministry.
Refuting a media report, the state minister said: “I did not say the three RAB officers would surrender to the court on Wednesday. Some media misquoted me.
“I told some media that we had done our job. If the former RAB officials want, they can surrender to the court, but the media have misquoted me.”
Probe report
Law Ministry’s Deputy Secretary Mizanur Rahman Khan, who is a member of the committee tasked with investigating the seven murders, submitted a three-page report to the court yesterday.
Public Administration Ministry’s Deputy Secretary Abul Kashem Md Mohiuddin told the media: “We have submitted a primary progress report to the High Court as per its directive. Our report was based on the hearings, visits to places of the incident and several media reports.”
Refusing to comment on any findings, he said: “We will continue our hearings and probe. Another progress report will be submitted to the High Court next week.”
Deputy Secretary Mizanur Rahman said a hearing would be held at the court on the primary report today. “We will request the court to allow four more weeks before the full report is submitted,” he said.
On May 5, the High Court ordered an administrative investigation into the killing of Narayanganj ward councillor Nazrul Islam, lawyer Chandan Sarkar and five others, and the Public Administration Ministry formed the probe committee headed by Public Administration Additional Secretary Shahjahan Ali.