RAB additional DG’s statement contemptuous

The High Court yesterday termed RAB additional DG’s recent statement contemptuous, saying the RAB official had also indirectly threatened Shahidul Islam, father-in-law of slain Narayanganj ward councillor Nazrul Islam.

In an interview with the media on May 11, RAB Additional DG Ziaul Ahsan said Nur Hossain, the prime suspect in the sensational seven-murder incident, had fled the country and gone to Kolkata, India and efforts were being made to bring him back. He said all mysteries would be resolved if Nur could be arrested.

Ziaul also said RAB would investigate if Shahidul had been involved in the gruesome murders.

The High Court bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore yesterday said it w as not the RAB official’s duty to unveil the mysteries since the court had clearly stated on May 5 that the force could not be engaged in the investigation into the abductions and killings.

The bench said Ziaul Ahsan’s statement was, first, contemptuous, and then threatening to Shahidul Islam.

“Who will dare to testify under the circumstances?” the court said, asking Attorney General Mahbubey Alam if it would pass an order or he would deal with the matter.

The attorney general said he would communicate the order and the court’s views with the government.

According to media reports, people were afraid of giving depositions, the court observed, asking: “What is the problem if RAB personnel are not deployed in Narayanganj for the sake of the image of the government, RAB and other law enforcement agencies?

“If RAB members were not there, people could testify without any fear.”

The bench told the attorney general that it could pass an order in this regard but it would be better if he informed the government.

Justice Gobinda asked Mahbubey Alam if the investigation would be disrupted for the bench’s order. The top state counsel replied in the negative.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hinted at the recent High Court order on arresting three RAB officials in connection with the seven murders and said: “What can we [the executive] do if the job that is assigned for the executive division is being done by the judiciary?”

Addressing her party members at Ganabhaban, she said: “The over-enthusiastic activities of some people are making the investigation [into the Narayanganj killings] difficult.”

Arrest of three former RAB officials

Supreme Court lawyer Subrata Roy Chowdhury yesterday read out the order on arrest of three former RAB 11 officials – Lt Col Tarek Sayeed Mohammad, Maj Arif Hossain and Lt Commander SM Rana.

The attorney general became furious at this and said someone was intentionally trying to malign the government. The court told him that if he had anything to say, he should go to the bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider or the Appellate Division. The bench recorded the order of arrest.

On May 11, the bench of Justice Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar ordered arrests of the three former RAB 11 officials immediately, but the arrests have yet to be made.

Government fails to dispel horror

The attorney general yesterday afternoon submitted seven progress reports to the court as per an order dated May 5.

The bench, however, observed that not much important progress had been made. In a report, the Criminal Investigation Department chief says Narayanganj residents were scared. The bench observed that the report did not have any mention on what measures were taken to dispel the horror.

The report also says it is natural that people would panic if such murders occur. The court said the government should ensure a safe atmosphere in the area so witnesses came to testify.

Inquiry committee report

The seven-member committee headed by the additional secretary of the Public Administration Ministry in its report sought four weeks’ time to complete the probe.

The committee was formed following an order of the High Court to find out if any of the law enforcement agencies had any involvement in the abductions and murders. The High Court also ordered the committee to look into negligence, if any, on part of any administrative officer or law enforcer in taking immediate action, upon receiving information, for rescuing the abducted people alive.

The High Court expressed its satisfaction at the committee’s activities.

RAB’s departmental probe

The RAB DG in his report said a committee had been formed with DIG Aftab Uddin Ahmed to investigate whether anyone from the agency had been involved in the murder and had deliberately neglected in taking prompt action soon after receiving the information of the abductions.

The committee interrogated 16 officers of RAB 11 and will interrogation a few more officers. The probe report would be placed to the court at proper time, said the report read out by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

The bench drew the attention of the state counsel on the reports of the IGP and RAB, saying although the court on May 5 ordered them to place their reports through the attorney general’s office, they did not mention for once about this and rather mentioned internal exchange of letters. The court said it was apparent from the reports what their mentalities were.

AG on journalists

Towards the end of the hearing, the attorney general requested the court to tell the bench officers to ensure that no journalists could access the progress reports. He said he would not give the documents to any journalist. The court fixed June 4 for submission of the progress reports.

Deputy Attorney General ASM Nazmul Haque assisted the attorney general at the hearing.