Altaf Murder Case in Satkhira
Ex-BNP MP Habib,14 others charge-sheeted
Habibul Islam Habib
Investigation authorities yesterday pressed charges against 15 people including former BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib, in the sensational case for killing Tala upazila BNP president ABM Altaf Hossain. Habib, who is also the president of Satkhira district BNP, was elected lawmaker from Satkhira-1 (Tala-Kalaroa) constituency as a BNP-led four-party alliance candidate in 2001. The investigation officer (IO) of the case, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Sukha Ranjan Samaddar of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted two separate charge sheets against them before Judge Ranu Bilkis Banu of the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court at Satkhira yesterday, over four years of the incident. Ten people, who were either implicated or arrested suspecting their involvement in the case, were dropped from the charge sheet as the charges against them were not proved, sources said, adding that a few of them are leaders and activists of Awami League and its front organizations. The other charge sheeted accused are Kumira Union Parishad chairman and Tala upazila Krishak Dal president Golam Mostafa, Tala upazila Jubo Dal president Hafizul Islam, former Tala upazila BNP joint secretary Rasheduzzaman Raju, Khalilnagar UP chairman and Tala upazila Workers Party secretary Pranab Ghosh Bablu, Shib Pada Sarkar, Ahmad Ali, Ashraful Haque, Shahidul Islam, Tushar Kumar Pal, Prakash Sarkar, Badruzzaman, Mostafa, Kobat Ali, Abu Hena Alam, Debendra Nath Biswas -- all from different villages in Tala upazila. Prakash Sarkar, who was arrested soon after the incident, is now in jail while Badruzzaman Mostafa, Abu Hena Alam and Debendra Nath Biswas were released on bail granted by the court, sources said. The other charge sheeted accused including former BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib are now absconding, court sources said. Satkhira district BNP vice president and Tala upazila BNP president ABM Altaf Hossain was killed as criminals threw bombs on him at Panchrasta intersection at Patkelghata Bazar in Tala upazila on May 4 in 2004 when he was going to his village home on a motorcycle, goes the prosecution. Another BNP worker Habibur Rahman was also killed in the attack. Soon after the incident, local Jubo Dal leader Abdur Rahman of Senpur village in Tala upazila filed a case with Tala Police Station accusing a few Awami League and Juba League leaders and activists. Shortly afterwards, the case was transferred to the CID for investigation.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments