Sylhet magnate untraced for over 10 months

Habibur Rahman

Different trade bodies and other organisations including the Chamber and ruling BNP on several times demanded rescue of the businessman, but to no effect.

Police officials repeatedly claimed 'significant progress' in investigation but nothing is known yet whether he is alive or not. They can not even say whether he was kidnapped or is missing.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Talking to this correspondent, a police official ruled out the possibility of involvement of any 'criminal gang' in theincident. Family members or relatives might be involvement, he said.

Property-related matter may be the cause, he added while speculating that 'hired gangs' could be involvement in the incident.

He however said the mystery would be unearthed soon. But another police official admitted that the investigation is 'in a mess' as different wings of police department were involved in the investigations.

"I doubt they investigators can make any headway even if they try sincerely because most of the 'alamats' (evidences) got destroyed with the passage of time and change of investigators".

The case was first investigated by Sylhet Kotwali police. Later, it was handed over to the Detective Branch and then to CID (Criminal Investigation Department), police sources said. Family members of Habibur Rahman are in doubt rescuing him alive.

Habibur Rahman's 100 yea-old father Moulana Abdur Rahim took over his business as his brothers declined to look after his business fearing police harassment, family sources said. "I had to take over the business about a month after my son's disappearance as my other sons declined apprehending police harassment".

On November 8 last year, Tipu Sultana Begum, first wife of Habibur, received a letter by post, which asked for sending Tk 18 lakh to a filling station at Islampur Dholai in Copmpanyganj upazila on November 11, where a person wearing white pajama and panjabi will be waiting for the money. But nobody turned up.

Owner of Al-Rahman Trading Company in the city's Kalighat area, Habibur Rahman is missing since the night of October 17 last year.

His brother Rafique Uddin lodged a GD with Kotwali thanan next day. Later, on October 21, he filed a case.

The case was transferred to Detective Branch only after two days. Inspector Shafiqul

Alam was made the InvestigationOfficer (IO). Police on October 22 arrested three personsHabibur Rahman's nephews Emad and Ashok and former car driver Manzurul Islam.

Earlier, on October 19, unidentified callers told the victim's wife Sultana over telephone that Rahman was in good condition. Sultana also heard her husband's voice over phone.

But, the callers on that day did not make any demand, she said. The family members also allege that police investigators do not contact them now. The three arrested persons were taken on remand twice by Detective Branch police but they could not find any clue, they claimed.

They also raised question about arrest of two nephews, claiming that they are innocent.

But they said they are suspicious about driver Manjurul Islam, who was sacked weeks before Habibur Rahman's disappearance.

Both the wives of Habibur Rahman claimed that there was no misunderstanding between them over the hugeproperty of Habibur Rahman. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and the Police Superintendent of Sylhet had visited the victim's house several times after the incident and assured the family that habibur rahman would be traced out.

Earlier, the two wives of the victim also handed over a memorandum to the DIG to trace out Habibur Rahman. Traders in Sylhet held rallies and observed a half-day strike in the city's wholesale market to press for rescue of the businessman. A human chain was also formed in the city.