Sylhet magnate not rescued in a year

Different trade bodies, Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry and ruling BNP on several occasions staged demonstrations for rescue of Habibur Rahman but police and intelligence agencies could not make .

The case was first investigated by Sylhet Kotwali Police and then transferred to CID.

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Police officials repeatedly claimed that they made 'significant progress' in finding clues to the incident. But nothing has yet been achieved.

A CID official investigating the case told The Daily Star recently, "I, hope to get some clues soon".

The victim's family are now in a doubt whether he is still alive.

Habibur Rahman's 90 year old father Moulana Abdur Rahim is now looking after his business as his brothers did not agree to do so apprehending alleged police harassment.

Talking to this correspondent recently, Abdur Rahman claimed that his son did not have any rivalry or enmity with any body over business.

Owner of Al-Rahman Trading in the city's Kalighat area, Md. Habibur Rahman is missing since the night of October 17 last year. On November 8 last year, Tipu Sultana Begum, first wife of Habibur received a letter sent by an unidentified person asking for sending Tk 18 lakh by some one wearing white pajama-panjabi to a filling station at Islampur Dholai in Companyganj upazila on November 11.

His brother Rafique Uddin lodged a GD with Kotwali thana on October 18. Later, on 21 October, he filed a case.

Detective Branch Inspector Shafiqul Alam was made the Investigation Officer. After a few months the case was transferred to the CID. Inspector Selim was given the task of investigation.

As Selim went on retirement, Inspector Gopal Chakravarty was given the charge.

The police on October 22 last year arrested Hhabibur's nephew and employee Emad, another nephew Ashok and former car driver Manzurul Islam. But police could not extract any information about the incident from them. Habibur's family also raised question to the arrest of the two nephews.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and the SP of Sylhet had visited the victim's house several times after the incident and assured the family of steps to trace him out.

Earlier, the two wives of the victim also handed over a memorandum to the DIG appealing for tracing out Habibur Rahman.

Traders in Sylhet observed a half-day hartal in the city's wholesale marketa and the Sylhet Chamber also held rallied and formed a human chain for his rescue.

A police official ruled out involvement of any criminal gang behind the incident.

"Investigation has become difficult now as most of the 'alamats' have been destroyed by this time", he said seeking anonymity.