A lack of clues from the 11 arrestees has proved it difficult for police to make headway with the investigation into the killing of Rajshahi University teacher AKM Shafiul Islam.
Seven days have passed since the killing took place but there has been little progress with the probe. The two-day remand period of the arrestees has also ended while police are facing mounting pressure to arrest the killers.
Police yesterday evening produced the arrestees before Rajshahi Metropolitan Court and petitioned for putting them on a fresh seven-day remand.
But Magistrate Sharmin Akther said hearing on the remand prayer would be held tomorrow and sent the arrestees to prison.
Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Motihar police station and the investigating officer in the case, told the Dhaka Tribune no concrete evidence could be obtained yet but the raw clues suggested militancy behind the murder.
On November 15, sociology professor Shafiul was killed in front of his rented house at Chauddapai area in Rajshahi. A day after the murder, Rajshahi University Registrar Entajul Haque filed a case with Motihar police station against unnamed criminals.
Police detained over 50 people in different parts of Rajshahi city during the investigation for their suspected involvement in the crime. Of them, 11 were shown arrested and were remanded in custody for two days. The remand period ended yesterday.
An official of Motihar police station, who was involved with the interrogation of the 11, told the Dhaka Tribune no information could be received during questioning that might help make progress.
This made it necessary to petition for a fresh remand, he said.
Sardar Tamizuddin Ahmed, additional commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), said the special probe team was zeroing in on the slain professor’s social life and possible involvement of militants.
Inspector of the RMP Detective Branch told the Dhaka Tribune the attack, which took place in broad daylight, was not possible to carry out without local support.
“We are receiving statements that vary greatly and we are finding it difficult to piece together the details of the murder,” he said.
Police, meanwhile, have combed different parts of the district based on the account of a female witness, who said she had seen five to six youths fleeing the scene after committing the murder.
She claimed she witnessed the crime from her window.
A top RMP official said the primary probe suggested that the killers were outsiders but they could not be traced yet.
RAB has also failed to achieve any breakthrough in the probe. Lt Col Mahbub Alam, commanding officer of RAB 5, told the Dhaka Tribune investigation was underway but no conclusion had yet been drawn.