Main accused beyond reach of law

The prime accused of Narayanganj seven murders Nur Hossain is now in Kolkata as disclosed by the RAB spokesman while the victims’ relatives accused the elite force of arranging his safe exit.
On the other hand, the three RAB officials who were prematurely retired from service for their involvement in the seven N’ganj murders including the City’s panel mayor Nazrul Islam are staying at their cantonment residence. The arrest of few minor accused from the sideline so far constitutes the progress in the probe.

Despite a High Court order to arrest the three RAB officials immediately, the government agencies are busy writing “letters to each other” and the state minister for home described it as the legal process on the move. The investigation commission last week asked for another four weeks time while sceptics fear it is part of a slow moving cover up of the case.

Eye wash
Meanwhile, informed sources described the arrest of an accused at Jessore as an eye wash to divert public attention from the government’s failure to find the main accused. Questions are being asked as to why Siddhirganj police did not stop three microbuses on the night of April 27 abduction while passing the check post at 3 am carrying the bodies of the victims to dump them in Sitalakya river. Those vehicles returned unchallenged through the same check post after about 45 minutes. The investigators now say if the whereabouts of those vehicles could be unearthed, the case would be dissolved forthwith.
It is widely known that the government has retired the three RAB officials on prima facie evidence but senior RAB officials are saying “if they are found involved” action would be taken against them suggest that moves are on to spare them from facing trial.
Also questions being asked how Nur Hussain was able to cross the border despite high alert at all border posts. Besides, the RAB officials in uniform committed the alleged crimes, then why they should not be put on trial under a military tribunal, because people fear that their trial in a civilian court would be subject to lengthy process. Meanwhile, elements are reportedly at work within the establishment to divert the case and not only to save the main accused persons but also a prominent politician’s son who reportedly brokered the Tk 6 crore deal to kill the victims.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly accused a section of highly enthusiastic people for disruption the investigation. Sceptics say the local administration is actively working to divert the case. Meanwhile, the government’s directive to seize the property of the main accused Nur Hossain appears yet another attempt to defuse public criticism of the government’s failure to quickly arrest Nur and RAB officials and put them on trial.

Abductions spreading
As abductions and killings are taking almost every day both under criminal motive and targeting the political opposition, victims’ families all over the country are feeling insecure not knowing how to secure release of the family members and ask for justice.
Global human rights organizations have again raised the question of RAB’s extra judicial killings and the New York based Human Rights Watch in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged her to start probe by a neutral committee into RAB’s extra-judicial killings which must include not only the N’ganj seven murder but also similar abductions and killing by the forces all over the country.
Dhaka based diplomats have also raised concerns over the growing abductions and killing of unarmed persons demanding neutral probe and immediate government actions to prevent any such things.
Transparency International Bangladesh has alleged the government has usurped all powers of the state agencies leaving no neutral place where people may seek safety for their lives and property; making them vulnerable to kidnapping and killing.
Meanwhile, Nazrul’s father-in-law Shahid chairman has publicly accused RAB additional director general Col Ziaul Ahsan for arranging the safe passage for Nur Hossain to Kolkata. He wondered when the red alert was in force how a dreaded killer can leave the country and how Col Ziaul Ahsan knew his whereabouts at Kolkata at the moment.
Col Ziaul, in turn, has accused Shahid chairman of having involvement in the killing of his son-in-law saying they are examining the matter. Earlier Shahid chairman had said when he went to RAB-11 office on April 27 to seek their help to recover the victims, RAB officers detained him for six hours while asking him not to take the matter too far.
BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has also accused RAB for sending the main accused out of the country to save their own officers from facing trial. She demanded RAB’s dissolution since it has become a menace to public safety instead of strengthening security to life and property of common people.

Loss of direction
She also accused the elite forces of innumerable murders, abductions and forced disappearances, in addition to regular extra-judicial killings of the opposition leaders and workers in the name of being terrorists. It is now tarnishing the nation’s image abroad instead of helping the people at home.
Meanwhile some government ministers initially tried to put the blame of the seven murders on BNP saying it has a hand behind it to destabilize the country. People had laughed at them while the whole episode is slowly causing a meltdown of the ruling party’s power base at N’ganj and elsewhere in the country.
Most people now believe that the undemocratic foundation of the government sitting on a farcical January 5 election has made the government critically dependent on terrorist outfits within the party. Only the restoration of a fairly elected government may help restore the law and order in the country to end chaos and anarchy.
Meanwhile, families of the victims and witnesses were panicked to make deposition before the enquiry commission. One witness at N’ganj Circuit House on the first day of the hearing however said he had seen several RAB persons putting the victims in their vehicles. He was on the road side while the main accused Nur Hossain was waiting in his car at a distance.
As it appears the entire local administration had worked to make the abduction and killing a success and they worked allegedly under the supervision of a local godfather who is known to all and equally dreaded. People are losing hope as the case is taking a new swing to unknown directions.

Source: Weekly Holiday