Syedpur twin murder case takes a new turn

Monira Akhtar, 20, and her daughter Masuma were slaughtered by unidentified killers while they were asleep at their house. Her stepson Abdullah, 12, narrowly escaped attempted murder. He suffered serious cut injury in the neck.

Monira's daughter Rumana Akhtar Rumi, 8, was rescued by BDR from traffickers at bordering Nandigram village near Hili in Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur district on May 31.

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Following her rescue, it came to light that Monira's husband madrassah teacher Azizul Islam had kept their minor daughter Rumi away from home and filed an abduction case against Kazi Ekramul Haq of the same village and nine others.

Azizul had a land standing land dispute with Ekrumul, Syedpur BNP President, police said. Azizul and Ekramul so far filed around 20 cases against each other.

Police told this correspondent yesterday that they are now probing whether Azizul was involved in the sensational murder of his wife and baby daughter.

About six months back, Azizul had got his daughter Rumi admitted to Choupothi Kaomi Girls Madrasa in adjoining Taraganj upazila under another name, Hur-e-Jamaat. At home, he made it public that her daughter was abducted and filed an abduction case with Nilphamari police against Ekramul and nine others.

When Rumi's admission in a different name came to the knowledge of madrassah authorities about three months back, he sent the minor girl to a relative's house at a bordering village in Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur.

On May 31, Rumi was rescued while being trafficked to India.

After rescue, BDR took her to their Basudevpur camp where she told them her identity. BDR handed over her to Hakimpur thana. Being informed, Syedpur police rushed to Hakimpur and brought her to Syedpur. There she gave a statement under Section 101. She was then sent to the safe custody of Nilphamari police.

After the March 28 twin murder, Azizul lodged a case with Syedpur thana accusing Ekramul and nine others.

On the other hand, Monira's brother lodged another case against his brother-in-law Azizul accusing him for killing his sister.

Azizul had told newsmen and villagers earlier that the killers of his wife and baby were trying to mislead the probe by utilising his wife's brother. He also alleged that Ekramul, being a ruling party leader, was trying to influence the probe.

But after rescue of his so-called abducted daughter Rumana Akhtar Rumi and her statement, police now say they tend to believe that Azizul had kept her daughter hiding and filed a false abduction case.

Local people now believe that Azizul could be involved in the murder of his wife and daughter. Police are proving this.

While contacted, the Nilphamari Police Superintendent said rescue of the so-called abducted girl has "changed the situation and line of thinking". Action will be taken against the real killer after investigation, he said.