Shibir leader Salehi finally surrenders, sent to jail

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

The prime accused in Rajshahi University (RU) professor S Taher Ahmed murder case and RU Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi was sent to jail yesterday after he appeared before a court here to seek ad interim bail.

Rajshahi District and Sessions Judge Abu Bakar Siddik passed the order.

Pressurised by continued police attempts to catch him, Salehi obtained ad interim bail from High Court on July 3 in 2006. On January 1 this year, the HC bail was extended for the third time.

But the bail, granted for no criminal charges against him till then, went useless on March 18 last when police submitted charge sheet accusing Salehi and five others -- Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin, Zahangir, Salam, Nazmul and Azimuddin in the case. A magistrate court issued arrest warrant against him following the charge sheet.

On March 29, the HC bench of Mainul Islam Chowdhury rejected Salehi's anticipatory bail petition and asked him to surrender before the magistrate court.

Contacted over phone, Prof Taher's family members told that they fear that Salehi might get away without any punishment due to the flaws in investigation. They also said that the investigation so far had revealed that Salehi took away the revolver, used in murder, and some documents belonging to Prof Taher.

"His (Salehi) interrogation may reveal significant information on the killing," Taher's wife Sultana Ahmed said.

Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Achanul Kabir also agreed on the point when contacted over phone, but he noted that since the case is currently under trial, there is no scope for further interrogation.

"Still there is adequate strong evidence for proving the charges against Salehi," he said adding that some other important pieces of evidence are yet to be produced before court.

Apart from the judicial confessions of Zahangir, Salam and Nazmul, Salehi's activities since the murder amply prove that Mohiuddin hired Salehi for his political influence to carry out the murder, the IO said.

In addition, the police have gathered photographs and videos proving close ties of Salehi and Mohiuddin, he added.

A teacher of Geology and Mining Department, Prof Taher was killed on February 1, 2006. His body was recovered from a sewer at the back of his quarters on RU campus on February 3.