Police hunt for Bangla Bhai aide fails

Azad, left, and Rezaul, the alleged cadres of Bangla Bhai, after arrest in Nilphamari Monday. PHOTO: STAR

But police refused to disclose those to newsmen 'for the sake of investigation and nabbing the entire gang'.

A local police source quoting the arrested JMJB cadres, Rezaul,22, and Azad,23, however, said a close aid to JMJB chief Bangla Bhai and also a leading member of the outfit, Jahangir Hossain, were staying with his people in Nilphamari 'with a mission'.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The cadres told police that they had come to the local LGED office for extortion at the instruction of Jahangir, the source said.

In the face of intensive police interrogation the cadres also disclosed that their team leader was directing them through cell phone.

Police tactfully made the two arrested cadres to phone their leader.

In reply the gang leader said he would come in time, the source further informed.

Meanwhile, police raided different parts of the town with the two arrested cadres in the last two days to nab their accomplices. But none was arrested.

Superintendent of Police Shoeb Ahmed earlier told newsmen that six teams of police launched the drive to arrest the criminals.

Sohrab Hossain, the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Tuesday produced Rezaul and Azad before the court of first class magistrate. He sought three days' remand of the two cadres but the magistrate granted for two days.

Eyewitnesses said at the time of arrest on Monday JMJB cadre Rezaul

warned the Executive Engineer of local LGED, who later filed the case, of 'dire consequences.' Rezaul also asked him to keep the money ready so that their men can collect it any moment.

The other cadre, Azad, warned the police not to touch him. He also

refused to be handcuffed but police overpowered him.

JMJB cadres Rezaul and Azad were arrested on Monday when they came to the LGED office to collect Tk one lakh extortion money. They said that they need the money for treatment of one of their ailing cadres.

Earlier, one person claiming to be Siddiquar Rahman alias Bangla Bhai contacted LGED Executive Engineer. He told the official that his men with a letter and code number would come to LGED office to collect the extortion money.

But engineer Mostafa Kamal informed the matter to police following which plainclothes policemen arrested the two persons red-handed from the spot.

Rezaul identified himself as the son of Abdul Haque Patowari of Sreerampur village in Moheshpur upazila in Jessore. His accomplice Azad hails from Ramganj upazila of Luxmipur district.