Detectives in Chittagong arrested a former madrasa official in connection with the January murder of a nursing teacher.
Md Reza, 48, a former estate officer of Patiya’s Jamia Al Islamia Madrasa, confessed to involvement in the killing of Chittagong Nursing College Senior Teacher Anjali Rani Debi on January 10 this year, said DB Additional Deputy Commissioner SM Tanvir Arafat. Metropolitan Magistrate Rahmat Ali granted a five-day remand to question the suspect.
Extremists are suspected for the murder because Anjali, between 2012 and 2014, objected to a student movement advocating wearing hijab on campus, police said.
Some students complained against Anjali for opposing the pro-hijab movement and Reza sent a legal notice to Anjali two months before her death, DB said.
On January 10, Anjali, 50, was hacked to death by masked men in front of her residence in the city’s Telipotti Lane area. Her husband, Dr Rajendra Chowdhury, filed a murder case.
“There are similarities between the murder of Anjali and the recent blogger killings. We are sure that extremists led by Reza killed Anjali but do not know how many persons took part in the killing.”
“Reza received a High Court ruling not to be harassed so DB made sure of his involvement before acting,” the ADC said.
ADC Tanvir said Reza had used Facebook to connect with domestic and international extremists.
