Extortion Case Against 4 Satkhira Ex-mps, 3 Cops
No progress in probe in eight months
There is virtually no progress in investigation of the extortion case against three former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers, a former BJP lawmaker and seven others, eight months after its filing. The accused former lawmakers are Maulana Abdul Khaleque, Maulana Riasat Ali and Gazi Nazrul Islam of Jamaat and Kazi Ala Uddin of BJP (Naziur). The seven others are retired assistant police superintendents Mostafa Abdul Halim and Akhtaruzzaman of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), sub-inspector (SI) Ruhul Amin Mollah of Satkhira detective branch (DB), Sheikh Abdul Khaleque, Azadul Islam Mollah and Safiqul Islam Milon. Sonadanga police station in Khulna city recorded he case on December 31 last year, five months after its filing with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court there on July 8 last year. Jamaat leaders Abdul Khaleque, Riasat Ali and Gazi NazruI Islam were elected from Satkhira-2 (Sadar), Satkhira-3 (Assassuni) and Satkhira-5 (Shyamnagar) constituencies respectively and Kazi Ala Uddin was elected from Satkhira- 4 (Kaligonj-Debhata) in 2001 election as BNP led 4- party alliance candidates. Gazi Nazrul Islam is now in jail. Abdus Sattar Moral, a resident of 8, Sher-e-Bangla road in Khulna, filed the extortion case with Khulna Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court on July 8 last year. In the case, the plaintiff alleged that all the accused in collaboration with each other implicated him in false cases and threatened him using their political influence. He alleged that the accused demanded Tk 5 lakh toll from him on February 11, 2004. As he refused to pay, SI Ruhul Amin Mollah on orders from the four lawmakers, raided his house and took away Tk 3, 75,000 and four land deeds on February 15, 2004. Later, SI Ruhul Amin arrested and tortured him physically when he went to him on March 3, 2004 to get back his land deeds, the plaintiff alleged. The SI (Ruhul) also realised Tk 30,000 from him, arrested and sent him to jail on March 6 on a false charge, Abdus Sattar alleged. After released on bail, he submitted a complainant to the then police superintendent (SP) against SI Ruhul Amin but no action was taken, he stated in the case. ASP Akhtaruzzaman was made investigation officer (IO) of the case filed against him as SI Ruhul Amin was transferred. The ASP informed him that the then state minister for home Nuruzzaman Babar and minister- in-charge for Satkhira Aman Ullah Aman were interested in the case. “ASP Akhtaruzzaman demanded Tk 5 lakh and I gave him Tk 30,000”, Abdus Sattar said in the complaint. Later, ASP Akhtaruzzaman was transferred and ASP Mostafa Abdul Halim was made the IO, he said. Abdus Sattar alleged he also gave Tk 17,000 to ASP Akhtaru-zzaman on October 17, 2006. After hearing, Khulna Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zamal Uddin Ahmed on July 8 last year asked the officer-in-charge of Sonadanga police station to investigate the case and take action but police did not record the case. After separation of the judiciary on November 1 last year, police recorded the case on December 31 on orders from Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate Mahbubur Rahman. Contacted over cell phone, all the four former lawmakers refuted the allegation and said the extortion case is false, filed to defame them and spoil their political career. Sonadanga thana OC Shahidul Islam in Khulna city, when contacted, however said the case is now under investigation and action will be taken against the accused if they are found guilty.
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