Property of Prof Yunus murder suspect attached in Rajshahi

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

Police last night attached the movable property of Zafar Babu, a Shibir cadre and key suspect in Prof Muhammad Yunus murder case.

A team of police started the operation at 5:00pm and attached the property including consumer electronics and furniture at his house during a four-hour-long raid.

The Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on February 23 ordered the attachment as the Shibir leader remained absconding since the murder.

Prof Yunus of economics department at Rajshahi University was killed during his morning walk on December 24, 2004.

Police said Zafar was wanted in five other murder cases. Sources said he fled to India and used to stay at a top Jamaat leader's house.

Meanwhile, local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir yesterday blamed the state minister for home affairs and Rajshahi police commissioner for 'hatching conspiracy' to breach the ruling BNP-Jamaat alliance.

Referring to the recent arrest order of Rajshahi University (RU) Shibir President Mahbubul Alam Salehi, a wanted in connection with Prof S Taher Ahmed murder case, they also condemned the role of Rajshahi city mayor and journalists.

They threatened to 'paralyse Rajshahi and the entire country' if police arrest Salehi.

The state minister for home did a 'mischief' by ordering Salehi's arrest, Rajshahi city Jamaat Ameer Ataur Rahman said at a meeting in Shaheb Bazar on February 23.

"You [state minister] ordered Salehi's arrest hearing from corrupt police officials and dishonest journalists. You will not be spared if you join the conspiracy," he said.

Addressing Rajshahi City Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu MP, he said, "You are silent when police are looking for Salehi. Don't worry. We will ensure your win in the next election, as we did before."

Claiming the Shibir leaders as innocent, Ataur accused the Rajshahi police commissioner for plotting to tarnish the image of Jamaat and Shibir.

Naming Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Janakantha, Jugantor, and Sangbad, he said these newspapers were born to write against Jamaat.

The police commissioner of Rajshahi will be responsible if the ruling alliance is breached, said former RU Shibir President Rezaul Karim.

The local leaders of Jamaat and Shibir, who earlier blamed journalists for fabricating news against Shibir leader Salehi, have now extended their accusations to police and ruling BNP leaders following police raids on RU campus and different offices of Jamaat and Shibir for arresting Salehi.

They also demanded arrest of an RU teacher, who they claimed 'designed' the murder of Taher over his 'scandal concerning women'.

Police, on the other hand, said they have not found any such scandal concerning anybody connected with the murder.