Manjurul Imam Murder
Squabbles in Khulna AL
Slain leader's son says he told the truth in court
Intra-party squabbles in Khulna Awami League have been further exposed following the recent statements of slain party leader Manjuurul Imam's son and other party men in court.
Two rival factions in the party are now at loggerheads, blaming each other for 'instigating' Imam's son Abdullah Harun Rumi to 'twist the truth tactfully' during deposition before Khulna Speedy Trial Tribunal on February 25. Rumi is the eldest son of Manjurul Imam, who was president of Khulna AL.
There is no denying of the fact that deposition of prosecution witness Rumi will now expose involvement of AL leaders in the plan to murder Manjurul Imam, said Bagerhat district Awami League general secretary Kamruzzaman Tuku who is one of the eight court witnesses who submitted their deposition on the murder case. Tuku said the murder was 'obviously due to intra-party squabbles'.
Tuku submitted deposition as court witness on last March 4, saying that Manjurul Imam had often named four local AL leaders for giving him death threats. He named the four leaders as Khulna district AL secretary and former Whip Mostafa Rashidi Shuja and his younger brother Moazzem Rashidi Doja, city AL secretary Mizanur Rahman Mizan and ward commissioner Imam Hasan Chowdhury Moina.
Incumbent president of Khulna city Awami League and former state minister Talukder Abdul Khaleque who came to Khulna Press Club yesterday also did not rule out the possibility of involvement of any party man in the murder plan.
“Yet, I point my finger at the failure of Begum Khaleda Zia's four-party alliance government to properly investigate the sensational political murder”, he said.
Four-party alliance government wanted to capitalise on the murder to create a rift in Khulna Awami League. The rift has already widened following deposition of prosecution witness Rumi, said Talukder Abdul Khalequq.
“I can not say right at this moment if Rumi's deposition will adversely affect party's politics in Khulna centring city corporation election”, Khaleque said.
Khulna city AL secretary Mizanur Rahman Mizan while expressing his reaction to this correspondent blamed rival a faction of his party for 'instigating' Rumi to tell a 'concocted story' during deposition in court on February 25.
“I was never aware of the murder plan any way, nor do I believe that Manjurul Imam ever named me to any party leader for giving him death threat”, said the city AL secretary.
“The damage to the party has already been done by Rumi's deposition”, he said.
President of Khulna district AL Sheikh Harun-or-Rashid, when asked, said Rumi's deposition has widened the gap between leaders and activists of Khulna AL.
“However, we want to know who were the masterminds behind the murder”, he said.
When asked, senior advocate of Khulna District Bar Association Mujibar Rahman said there should be further investigation into the case.
When asked yesterday, Rumi said that he told the truth in court after being confirmed that his father was killed due to intra-party squabbles in Khulna Awami League.
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