Police told about 'masterminds' but none held yet

Elderly Rahman, a likeable person by all for his amiable character, was gunned down by unidentified miscreants on October 6 at his travel agency office in the city.

A number of government agencies started probing the incident but nothing could be unearthed, nor any of the killers or masterminds arrested.

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Soon after the murder, people came on streets and held rallies and processions demanding arrest of the killers. The Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation addressed one of the rallies.

All political parties including BNP, Awami League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Khelafat Majlish and left parties condemned the killing and demanded arrest of the killers.

The Sylhet Zila Bayboshayee Oikya Parishad observed an 8-hour strike in all business establishments on October 7, followed by a similar programme of travel agencies next day.

Within hours of the murder, police caught the driver of the 4-stroke auto rickshaw, which had carried the 'killers' and arrested two others including the manager of Rahman's business firm, but things remained in the dark. The manager was released after interrogation.

Police had earlier said they got from the autorickshaw driver some information about the 'masterminds' who engaged the killers, but nothing followed.

Two alleged criminals -- Shahed and Mokbul of Akhalia Kalibari area -- had hired the autorickshaw and followed the killers on a motorbike, the driver told police and a magistrate. But he did not name the killers.

Shahed and Mokbul, both cadres of Chhatra League and are known as hoodlums, were wanted in a number of cases, police said.

Police said they are in a dilemma, whether the two (Shahed and Mokbul) were hired by some quarter or they were the masterminds.

Local people said Rahman had also some prime land near the house of Shahed.

Police said they made several failed attempts in Sylhet and Dhaka to nab Shahed and Mokbul.

A police official however claimed that the mystery would be unveiled soon.

Some sources claimed that Rahman had a long-standing dispute with his neighbour Abdul Matin Chowdhury, a leading contractor and Jatiya Party leader.

Two sons of Chowdhury were picked up and released after interrogation.

Police went to Chowdhury's house several times recently but none was found.

Chowdhury, who had been in hiding after the killing, in a written statement sent to local newspapers said he had litigation with Rahman but things were settled and they performed Hajj together two years ago. Some interested quarters are spreading rumors linking him with the killing, Chowdhury said in the statement.