Despite hot leads, Twaki case going cold

Four years after Tanvir Mohammad Twaki’s body was found on the banks of the Shitalakhya River in Narayanganj, no charges have been filed in the suspected murder case. The 17-year-old’s remains were discovered on March 8, 2013, two days after he went missing. In 2014, investigators named 11 suspects, including the son of a former Narayanganj member of parliament. At a press conference held in Dhaka on March 6, 2014, then RAB additional director general Ziaul Ahsan said a list of 11 suspects had been drawn up by the elite force following preliminary investigations. The list included Azmeri Osman, the son of former Narayanganj 5 MP late Nasim Osman and nephew of Narayanganj 4 MP Shamim Osman. Bloodstained trousers were recovered from Azmeri Osman’s office during a RAB raid on August 7, 2014. Other suspects named by the RAB official were Rajib, Kalam Shikdar, Mamun, Opu, Kajal, Shipon, Jamshed Khokon, Yusuf Hossain alias Liton, Sultan Shawkat alias Bhromor and Tayebuddin alias Jacky. Bhromor and Jacky were arrested soon after the RAB press conference. Saleh Rahman Simanto, whose name as a suspect was given by Twaki’s father, was also arrested at that time. All of them are currently out on bail. Bhromor confessed on November 12 that he was present in Azemri’s office in Narayanganj when Twaki was allegedly tortured to death sometime after 9:30pm on March 6, 2013. But Bhromor later filed a petition to withdraw his confessional statement and secured bail. He is believed to be living outside of the country at present. One suspect, Yusuf Hossain alias Liton, who was arrested by RAB on July 29, 2013, made a confessional statement to the court that included names similar to those submitted to the police by Twaki’s father Rafiur Rahman Rabbi on March 18. Rafiur Rahman Rabbi also accused Shamim Osman, now the Awami League MP for Narayanganj 4; Razib Das, vice-president of Bangladesh Chhatra League Narayanganj district unit, who reportedly lives in India; and suspended leader of the Narayanganj district unit Jubo League Johirul Islam Bhuiyan whose whereabouts are not known. Narayanganj Judicial Magistrate Ashek Imam on February 1, 2017, ordered the investigating officer speed the submission of a charge sheet.