Probe committee records statements of 46

The inquiry followed a High Court order after filing of a writ petition by Naimul Islam, commissioner of Kushtia municipality and elder brother of the 'crossfire' victim, on May 9.

This was the first official probe into a 'crossfire' death in the country. So far, there has been 69 'crossfire' deaths in Kushtia, which is highest in the country among districts.

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The probe committee headed by District Magistrate Jamal A Naser Choudhury during its day-long inquiry from 10 am to 8 pm recorded statements of 26 members of different law enforcing agencies and 20 local people including Kushtia municipality chairman Anwar Ali and family members of the victim.

The probe body included Additional District Magistrate Sheikh Mizanur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mahatab Jamadar and Magistrate M Abdullah.

The DM, approached by this correspondent, declined to say anything.

Those who made depositions included the Kushtia Police Superintendent, Rab-6 Commanding Officer and Officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar thana. Police earlier said Ena was killed in a 'crossfire' when he and his 'accomplices' traded fire with law enforcers at Renwick embankment near GK (Ganges-Kabadak) project area. He was taken there for arms recovery as per his confession to police, police had said earlier.

A BD (Detective Branch) team of Kushtia police had arrested Ena on April 13 claiming that he was a 'cadre' of outlawed Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF).

After the incident, Ena's family claimed that he was not involved with any outlawed party but his family was involved with Awami League (AL) politics.

The family alleged that despite repeated request to police, they could trace Ena's whereabouts for two days after his arrest “After two days, police telephoned us that Ena was killed in crossfire", Ena's wife told this correspondent yesterday.