Two of the key accused in the Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder case have confessed in court — implicating 12 other people, including Awami League’s Sonagazi upazila unit’s President Ruhul Amin, in the crime.
Nuruddin and Shahadat Hossain Shamim, students of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa, were produced before Feni Senior Judicial Magistrate Zakir Hossain’s court at 3:30pm on Sunday.
The judge recorded their confessional statements for over nine and a half hours.
The duo, who were arrested by PBI from Mymensingh on Friday, in their statements implicated Ruhul and 11 others, who were directly and indirectly involved in carrying out the attack on Nusrat on April 6.
Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Additional SP Abu Taher Sohan said: “Nuruddin and Shahadat gave confessional statements at the judge’s private office under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedures. The court sent them to jail after recording the statements.”
He said: “Nuruddin has also described the whole incident, detailing how Nusrat was set on fire and who were involved in the act.”
According to sources, after now suspended madrasa Principal Md Sirajuddaula was arrested in a sexual harassment case filed by Nusrat’s family, Ruhul Amin instructed Nuruddin and Shahadat to initiate a movement demanding Sirajuddaula’s release from jail. Sonagazi Municipality Councillor Maksud Alam gave them Tk10,000 for the job.
Later, another teacher of the madrasa also gave them Tk5,000 to stage a demonstration and burn Nusrat to death.
File photo of Nur Uddin and Shahadat Hossain Shamim |Collected
In his statement, Shahadat, who directly took part in the murder, said after setting Nusrat on fire, he quickly fled the scene and informed the matter to Ruhul over phone. In response, Ruhul said: “I know. You guys go into hiding.”
Mentioning he held a personal grudge against Nusrat, Shahadat said: “Nusrat had rejected my romantic advances several times a few months back. I was eager to be part of the mission after receiving orders from Sirajuddaula.”
Shahadat and Nuruddin are the second and accused, respectively, in the Nusrat murder case. They are leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League unit at the madrasa, where Nusrat also studied and was molested by Sirajuddaula at this office.
Investigation also revealed that Nuruddin met Sirajuddaula in jail to receive instructions for Nusrat’s murder.
Councillor Maksud remanded
Meanwhile, a Feni court yesterday placed Maksud Alam, who was arrested on April 11 by PBI, on a five-day remand in the murder case.
Senior Judicial Magistrate Sharafat Uddin passed the order after police produced Maksud before his court in the afternoon, the plaintiff’s lawyer Sahjahan Saju told Dhaka Tribune.
Another arrest
PBI yesterday also arrested another Alim student of madrasa from Chanchandia village under Sonagazi upazila.
Md Shamim, 19, was taken into police custody around 7pm, said PBI Additional SP Moniruzzaman. “Shamim has been arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder."
Police so far have arrested 14 people in the case.
