Prof Taher Murder: Arrest warrant against Shibir leader Salehi

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Rajshahi yesterday issued arrest warrant against Mahbubul Alam Salehi, president of RU unit Islami Chhatra Shibir, the main accused in Rajshahi University professor S Taher Ahmed murder case.

The High Court earlier granted bail for Salehi but it was cancelled as he violated the HC bail conditions of appearing before the lower court, said the lawyers concerned.

The bail granted on grounds of no charges against him also went useless on March 18 when charges of the murder were pressed against six people including him, sources said, adding that as he did not attend the lower court as per the condition in the HC bail, his arrest warrant was issued.

Salehi, who was seen roaming freely in the city with local Jamaat leaders during the BNP-Jamaat coalition rule, went into hiding after issuance of the emergency on January 11.

Another principal accused of the murder Prof Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin may flee abroad, investigation officer (IO) of the case in the requisition petition told the court.

Mohiuddin was selling out his properties providing grounds to believe that he may leave the country, the IO added.

Azimuddin Munshi, a charge-sheeted accused of the case, is now on bail while three self-confessed killers of Prof Taher -- Abdus Salam, Zahangir and Nazmul -- who are now in jail, submitted their prayers for bail on grounds that other accused, including the principal ones, were enjoying bail.

Prof Taher was killed on February 1 in 2005 and his body was found in a sewer behind his home on RU campus on February 3.