Hartal in Rajshahi now June 2

The hartal was called by Mili Murder Trial Movement Council, a newly formed civic body.

The date has been shifted on account of former president Ziaur Rahman's death anniversary, its leaders told a press conference at Barnamala School in the city yesterday.

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But sources close to the Council said the date was shifted as its leaders were threatened by some quarters over telephone to withdraw the hartal call.

Eleven year-old Mafroza Begum Mili, a student of class V at PN Government High School, was gangraped and strangled to death at their rented house in the city on May 3 morning. The incident created public anger, followed by days of protests.

The protests turned into street demonstrations, joined by students, human rights activists and different organisations as the investigation into the case by Rajshahi Metropolitan Police drew flak from local people.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) then took over the case following a government order.

Mili's father Mansur Rahman Mollah, an Instructor at Rajshahi Postal Academy, filed the case accusing the house owner's son Fazle Rabbi Rion, his relative Saiduzzaman Minar, relative of Rion and their neighbour Fazlur Rahman, an employee of Power Development Board.

Police arrested all the three accused persons and interrogated them on remand, but could not make any clue to the gruesome incident.

DIG Shamsul Islam, during his visit to Rajshahi on Friday, told newsmen that there would speedy and proper probe into the incident.

The Home Ministry has put the case on the list of sensational cases, he told newsmen.

At the press conference, the Movement Council leaders criticised police as it could not make any headway in the investigation.

They quoted speakers at Dr Kamal Hossain's public meeting on Thursday to say that two BNP lawmakers from Natore and Naogaon are influencing the investigation.

They said, police kept the arrested killer-suspects at the police barrack instead of thana custody and entertained them with home-supplied food as their families have relations with the ministers.

Denying the allegations, RMP Commissioner Nayeem Ahmed told newsmen that police "acted independently and attained mentionable success".

The press conference was attended by, among others, Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad Conveynor Zamat Khan, Advocate Khairul Alam, teacher Tanzina Khatun, engineer Mahabbat Bin Hakim, child c rights activist Rajab Ali, Nokkon Shilpi Gosthi President Hasib Panna, social worker Moniruzzaman Bablu, Barnamala School Director Humayun Kabir, Manjoor Ahsan and Shafiqur Rahman.

Their other programmes include exchange of views with different organisations and daily protest meeting.

Bangladesh Chhatra League formed a human chain and held a rally at Shaheb Bazar protesting the murder.

The Movement Council leaders handed over a memorandum to Jatiya Oikkya Mancha Convener Dr Kamal Hossain during his visit to Rajshahi on Thursday. Dr. Kamal told its leaders that h would submit the memorandum the Prime Minister.

"We will go to court if any action is not taken within 24 hours", he said at his public meeting in the city on Thursday.