The location of a previously unidentified Bangladeshi expatriate who spoke on Viber with Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna has been tracked down.
Identified only as “Mamun” – believed to be a nickname – the mysterious caller lives in Australia, Detective Branch (DB) officials told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
Further details of the caller’s identity, whose conversation has given rise to a sedition probe, were not yet known. Detectives said they were trying out diplomatic channels.
DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said there was no doubt that Manna was involved in a conspiracy against the government. He said everyone involved in the conspiracy would be tracked down and would face the law.
Yesterday was the third day of a 10-day remand for Manna, a former Awami League leader, who is being investigated in a case filed with Gulshan police station for alleged involvement in inciting the army to take over the country.
Details of Manna’s sources of financial support and his contacts were revealed in the remand session, detectives said.
A DB senior official, asking not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that Manna was being evasive with his questioners.
Asked about his conversation with former Dhaka city mayor and BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, Manna said he enjoyed good relations with a number of BNP leaders in addition to links with some leaders of the ruling party.
“I am a political leader and I speak with a number of political leaders for my professional purposes,” Manna told his interrogators, DB officials said.
A DB senior official involved in the interrogation said Manna had given detectives information about a dozen high-profile citizens.
He said they were analysing the information on these high-profile individuals and were verifying their political orientation.
Once the verification is completed, the detectives will take action, the DB senior official said.
