Police Superintendent Babul Akhter, widely rumoured to have had a hand in murder of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu, was relieved of his duties on Tuesday after the Home Ministry accepted the resignation he had tendered earlier.
Police conveyed the Home Ministry's decision to the media but are yet to say whether Babul was the killer or the prime suspect in the murder of his wife in Chittagong three months ago. Police are also unwilling to disclose any information regarding the matter.
The Home Ministry sent the Babul Akhter's relieve letter to the police headquarters on Tuesday, sources in the Ministry said.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Daily Observer, "Our honorable President has taken the decision in response to a prayer of Babul Akhter." The Home Ministry on Tuesday issued a gazette notification in this regard to be made effective immediately.
Babul Akhter had wanted to resign earlier, but latter wanted to stay on the job. According to the law, Babul's resignation letter will be sent to the offices of the Prime Minister and the President for approval, through the Public Administration Ministry.
Babul's wife Mahmuda Khanam was stabbed and shot dead on June 5 on her way to drop her son at a school bus stand in the GEC area of Chittagong. After the murder, Babul filed a case against three unidentified attackers.
Initially, it was suspected that militants carrying out series of attacks across the country might be involved in Mitu's killing. But the case took a new turn after police quizzed the suspects arrested in this connection.
On June 24, Babul Akhter was picked up by police from his in-laws' residence to DB office for interrogation. Several police officials, seeking anonymity, said Babul was interrogated by three DIGs of the police for 15 hours.
Police officials during the interrogation told Babul that they have all the information about his involvement in the murder. Babul has two options - either to go to jail or to resign from service. Babul chose the second option, said a source. His resignation letter was sent to the Home Ministry a few days ago.
Kamrul Islam Sikdar an accused in the Mitu murder case and an informer of police in Chittagong, fled after she was killed, according to sources at the police headquarters. Two other accused, Nabi and Rashed, were killed in a 'gunfight' with police at Rangunia in Chittagong on July 5.
On June 22, another accused Musa was picked up from his relative's home in the port area by the police, as claimed by his wife Panna Akhter. Police rejected this claim saying that they were still looking for Musa. Another suspect Kalu is still in hiding, said police.
The arrested include Wasim, Anwar, Shahjahan, Musa's brother Saidul Shikdar alias Saku, the weapon supplier Ehteshamul Haque alias Bhola and his assistant Monir.
On August 3, Babul Akhter submitted a written application to rejoin work at the police headquarters, but the officials concerned told him that he would not be able to join. In an application to the Home Secretary, Babul said that he did not resign on his own rather he was forced to do so. The police headquarters, however, said Babul resigned of his own volition.
On August 4, he submitted a written application to the police headquarters DIG (administration). In the application he said that he was residing at his father-in-law's house to take care of his two children, who have to regularly be taken to see the doctor. He asked for his absence to be regarded as leave and expressed his desire to join work once again.
On August 9, SP Babul sent an application to the Senior Secretary of Home Ministry to rescind his signed resignation letter. He said that on June 28, he was forced to sign the resignation letter. He said he did so under duress and asked for the resignation letter to be ignored.
"He (Babul) was not forced, he resigned on his own. We waited for a long time before sending his letter of resignation to the Home Ministry," replied Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque to a Bengali daily when asked about the allegation of forcing Babul to resign after his wife's murder.
