Investigators probing the seven murders in Narayanganj are expected to submit the charge sheet within a month after Nur Hossain, the key accused, is extradited from India.
“The investigation is almost complete and will end once Nur is handed over to us,” Narayanganj Police Super Khandaker Mohid Uddin said yesterday.
He did not say how long it would take to prepare the charge sheet but some officials dealing with the case said submission of the charge sheet would be delayed if Nur’s extradition took time.
“The case involves preparing a slew of documents. The final report will be prepared after recording Nur’s statement and collecting some additional evidence. The process could take more than a month,” said a police officer.
“Investigators have been keeping an eye on some people whose involvement is suspected in the abductions and killings. Nur’s statement will help investigators get a clear picture,” he said.
Police headquarters sources meanwhile said Nur’s extradition is expected within seven to ten days as officials are now waiting for response from the Indian authorities.
The state minister of home yesterday also hinted at Nur’s quick extradition.
“Have patience. We are doing what we are supposed to do on our part. There will be a good news soon,” he said at a programme in the capital.
On April 27, Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam, three of his associates and the driver, and senior lawyer Chandan Sarkar and his driver were kidnapped from Dhaka-Narayanganj link road. Three days later, six bodies were found floating in the Shitalakhya River while the other was also recovered from the river the following day.
Nur, who had been on the run since the incident, was arrested in India on June 14 for illegal entry.
So far, 17 people, including 15 RAB personnel, confessed in a Narayanganj court that they were involved in the crime.
Home Ministry sources said India’s Foreign Ministry had recently told officials in Dhaka in writing that Nur would be extradited, and had asked for the place and time where the man could be handed over.
On September 4, Bangladesh requested India at a joint meeting of officials in Dhaka to extradite Nur and some other criminals who have been hiding in the neighbouring country.
After Nur was arrested in India, Bangladeshi officials sent some documents related with the seven-murder case to the Indian Home Ministry and requested his extradition.
When India responded positively, Home Ministry officials in Bangladesh asked police to complete necessary steps to take Nur back. They also asked police to take help from the BGB if necessary.
“We have been asked to help police at border with Nur’s extradition and we said we are ready,” BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
The probe committee of the Public Administration Ministry is also awaiting Nur’s extradition.
But the investigation committee of RAB has already submitted its report to the High Court where it said 21 officials of the force were involved. The report also mentioned Nur as the mastermind.
Home Ministry sources said the process of deporting Anup Chetia, general secretary of United Liberation Front of Asom in Assam, would be initiated after the extradition of Nur.
Anup was arrested in 1997 on charges of entering Bangladesh without valid documents. He is now in safe custody as he has sought political asylum.
Home Ministry sources however said Anup’s deportation had no link with Nur’s extradition.
Meanwhile, detectives in Narayanganj yesterday arrested Asaduzzaman, who was in RAB 11 when the seven were killed.
