Police are allegedly manipulating the probe into the killing of Fulgazi upazila Chairman Ekramul Haque Ekram trying to hiding the real masterminds.
There are allegations against law enforcers that they are arresting local criminals rather than chasing the real ones under pressure from top political leaders of the district.
They are also forcing the arrestees to give depositions as per their order, alleged locals and family members of Ekram.
The family members said they would expect Prime Minister’s intervention in solving the murder case.
It has been many days since the killing but the administration is not taking any strong action against the killers, Tasmina Akther, wife of Ekram, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“Everyone in the district knows who is responsible for the murder but the investigators are doing nothing about it,” she alleged.
Police yesterday arrested one more man in connection with the killing of Ekram. The arrestee was Arman Hossain Kawsar, 17, a student of Feni Government College and son of police constable Abdul Qaiyum.
Abul Kalam Azad, inspector of Feni Model police station and investigating officer in the case, told the Dhaka Tribune that based on the information, police arrested Qaiyum who allegedly stopped Ekram’s vehicle on the day of the murder by pushing a van in front of it.
Police have so far made 24 arrests, all of whom are suspected to be involved in the murder. Most of the arrestees are supporters of the ruling Awami League while others are pro-BNP men.
13 of them gave confessional statements and police are still looking for 29 more accused.
In his confession, Abid, who was one of the attackers, alleged involvement of Awami League lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari and Joint Secretary of district Awami League Jahangir Mohammad Adel in Ekram’s killing.
Another mastermind Jihad Chowdhury has also claimed Adel’s involvement in the killing.
Jihad said Jubo League leader Jiaul Mister had directed him to commit the crime and spent around Tk2 crore for the murder, said an investigating officer.
“He mentioned the name of Awami League leader Harun-ur-Rashid Majumder of Anandapur union as a financier and said BNP leader Minar Chowdhury had paid him Tk one lakh after the murder,” he said.
Locals and district Awami League leaders, however, alleged that this was nothing but a drama staged by police as Jihad’s statement had been written by investigators themselves.
This is because Harun was one of the close associates of Ekram who made him upazila chairman. This allegedly led to conflict between Ekram and Jihad.
Another source claimed police would not take any action against Adel and Mister because of their intimate relation with Nizam MP.
Both of them moved freely in the area for a week after the murder but are now believed to have fled to India. Borders were put on red alert two days after their suspected escape.
Ziaul Haque Jashim, elder brother of Ekram and plaintiff in the case, said: “We are still uncertain about whether we will get justice as the investigation might end without arresting all the criminals.”
“We hope the authorities would take necessary action in this regard and would not end investigation before arresting them all,” he added.
Feni Police Superintendent Paritosh Ghosh told the Dhaka Tribune they got many clues from the statements of Jihad and other accused.
“We are analysing all those and action would be taken upon verification,” he said.
Paritosh said many puzzles surrounding the mystery would be solved once Adel and Mister were arrested.
“Police are raiding different areas in search of them,” he added.
