Dhaka, Nov 5 (bdnews24.com) ? A senior BNP leader has questioned the government's motive behind withdrawal and transfer of three police officials following the murder of Narsinghdi municipality mayor. The party's chief whip Zainul Abdin Farrouque said on Saturday the police officials were at the height of the things involving the murder of Lokman Hossain and subsequent unrest but the government withdrew them.
"They are the witnesses to the whole thing. What do their withdrawals mean?" the opposition leader asked.
Farrouque made the comment at a human chain protests organised by the party's women's front, Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka demanding release of BNP central leader Khairul Kabir Khokon.
Lokman was shot dead in the Narsingdi town by masked miscreants on Tuesday night.
On Friday, the government withdrew the Narsinghdi police superintendent Akkas Uddin, additional police superintendents Bijoy Bashak and Enam Ahmed.
Opposition BNP has claimed that the murder was a result of internal feud of the ruling Awami League and rejected that BNP central leader Khairul Kabir Khokon, who was arrested hours after the killing, was involved.
Farrouque on Saturday said Khokon's arrest was a 'ploy' to cover up the truth.
"Lokman Hossain's family has already named the people responsible. They have filed a case accusing them. But the government arrested Khokon under section 54 to divert attention," he said.
He accused the government of intimidating the court affairs by pointing out that the court did not grant Khokon bail.
"Awami League leaders' like Obaidul Kader and others are saying the guilty shall be caught. But even after the filing of a case they have not been arrested. This is how they are trying to fool the people," the chief whip said.
Local leaders of the ruling party's student front, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), said that Lokman, who was also the town Awami League general secretary, got tangled in a conflict with telecommunication minister and Narsinghdi MP Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju after a BCL factional clash. Several BCL members were jailed in that incident.
They said Raju held Lokman responsible for a protest against him on Oct 22 where district BCL members brandished brooms.
On Thursday, Lokman's brother Kamruzzaman filed a case against Raju's brother Salahuddin Ahmed Bachchu and 13 others, 48 hours after the killing.
The accused in the case are Bachchu, the minister's assistant personal secretary Masudur Rahman Murad, district Awami League vice-president Abdul Matin Sarker, town Awami League president Mamtajuddin Bhuiyan, vice-president Miya Mohammad Manjur, Sadar BNP general secretary Nurul Islam, town Juba League general secretary Ashraf Hossain Sarker, Mobarak Hossain, Monwar Hossain, Hiron Miya, Tarek Ahmed, Kabir Sarker, Aziz Miya and 'Mamun'.
bdnews24.com/sm/jk/rn/jr/1447h
Source: bdnews24.com
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