The motive behind the murder of Anwarul Azim Anar, the Member of Parliament for Jhenaidah-4, remains unclear, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman. Neither Bangladeshi nor Indian authorities have determined the reason for his killing.
Mumtarin Ferdous Dorin, the daughter of the slain MP, suspects a political conspiracy. However, she was unable to travel to India on Wednesday to provide a DNA sample due to visa issues. DNA testing is needed to confirm if the remains found in the septic tank at Sanjiva Gardens belong to MP Anar.
"The motive behind MP Anar's murder is still unknown. The key conspirator, Aktaruzzaman Shahin, is currently abroad and has not been apprehended," Commissioner Rahman said during the inauguration of the 'Database and Analysis of Road Crash (DARC)' software training at DMP headquarters on Wednesday. "Only upon his arrest can we ascertain the motive behind this murder."
The Commissioner emphasized that diplomatic efforts are underway to bring Shahin back to Bangladesh, despite the absence of a prisoner exchange agreement with the United States. He assured that the case is being treated with the highest priority, given Anar's status as a Member of Parliament.
Regarding prisoner exchange agreement with India will be used or not, Habibur Rahman said, "You know, this incident can be tried under the laws of Bangladesh and since the incident happened in India, it can be tried there as well." So it can be decided through our mutual discussion.
MP's daughter Mumtarin Ferdous Dorin, wife Shefali Begum and PS Abdur Rauf have not received Indian visa till now. After MP Annar went missing in India on the night of May 13, they went to Dhaka and applied for Indian visas.
During an exchange of views with journalists on Wednesday Dorin said that there may be a political conspiracy behind my father's murder. We suspect that before the polls. Suspicion cannot be properly stated unless the mastermind of the murder is caught. There may be someone above them. But those who were caught had contracted for the killing for 5 crore taka. They tried three times and succeeded the last time.
She said that they want proper justice for the murder of MP Anar. Those who are accused should be brought to trial with severe punishment. The prime minister repeatedly nominated my father because he was a popular person. Opponents have come forward to move the trial of the father's murder to the other side.
Dorin also said that she came to know that pieces of meat were recovered from the septic tank of the flat. But the police did not confirm whether those belong to the father or not. For this, we may have to go to Kolkata to give the DNA test sample. If Kolkata Police calls me then I will go there to give sample for DNA test.
Some of MP's close and political opponents in discussion in Jhenaidah: For the past few days, the names of some of MP Anar's close and political opponents are coming up in discussions among common people. Aktaruzzaman Shahin is his long time business partner. Many things are coming up behind the distance with Anar. Among them, Shahin developed a special relationship with the political opponent of MP Anar in the last few years. Shahin has even drawn those who were opposed to MP Anar over the party nomination of the recently concluded national elections. He was in regular contact with them for the last year and a half. One of them was a top leader of the district Awami League. Through him, Shahin took over the work of important offices of the district with his own contractor license.
Human chain to demand the execution of killers: A human chain program was held on Wednesday afternoon at Barobazar bus stand on the initiative of Kaliganj Barobazar, Kastbhanga and Rakhalgachi Union Awami League to demand the execution of the killers of MP Anar. Leader of Kaliganj Upazila Awami League Rashed Shamsher, Jahangir Hossain Thandu, Shibli Nomani and Union Awami League president, general secretary and UP chairmen spoke in the hour-long human chain.
Police delegation returning today: The three-member delegation that went to India to unravel the mystery of MP Anar's disappearance is returning home on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Wari) Abdul Ahad, one of the members of the delegation, confirmed the matter on Wednesday night. A three-member team led by Additional Commissioner of DMP Harun-or-Rashid went to Kolkata, India on Sunday. Another member of the team is Additional Deputy Commissioner of DB Wari Division Shahidur Rahman Ripon.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on May 30 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
