Charges pressed against ex-BCL leader, 7 others

Charges have been pressed against eight people, including former vice-president of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) central committee Saniyat Khan Bappa, in Tangail BNP leader Rafiqul Islam Faruque murder case.

Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar Sinha of the Detective Branch (DB) of Police in Tangail submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Wednesday afternoon.

The seven other accused are Shajahan Miah, Shafiqur Rahman, Sanjit Ghosh, Azad Fakir, Sujon Miah, Sanwar Hossain and Roosevelt Ahmed.

Faruque, vice-president of Tangail Sadar upazila unit of BNP and chairman of Dainna Union Parishad in the upazila, was shot dead by a gang near his house at Battala Bazar area in Tangail town on December 20, 2013. 

Faruque's younger brother Lavlu Miah lodged a murder case with Tangail Model Police Station the following day, accusing 11 Awami League men of the union. The case was later handed over to the DB for investigation.

During investigation, DB found no evidence of AL men's involvement in the killing.

The law enforcers unearthed clue to the murder after they arrested Shajahan Miah, Sanwar Hossain and Sujon Miah, three associates of BCL leader Bappa.

During interrogation, the trio admitted to their involvement in the killing. They told law enforcers that Bappa was the mastermind behind the killing of BNP leader Faruque. They later gave confessional statement before a Tangail court.

Of the accused, Sujon, Shahjahan and Sanwar are now in jail while the rest are still at large.