The mysterious killing of Gaibandha-1 ruling party lawmaker Monzurul Islam Liton over a week ago has thrown several windows open but so far with no light streaming on the killers, their motive or likely beneficiaries of the MPs death.
Police say they are still clueless about the assassins and their purpose of action while local people and Liton's relatives ponder who will gain from his demise. Liton was shot dead by killers riding a motorbike who stormed into his house compound aat Sundaraganj upazila and fired shots point blank. Bullets pierced his chest and tore through a hand muscle, autopsy report said.
There are other intriguing features emerging following the terrible incident. Locals say many people now "appear" to belong to Awami league and loyal to Liton though even not all members of his family are known to belong to the ruling party. Sundarganj residents say they are confused whether aligning names with AL or staying at a distance will bring them bigger benefits. Some people say posing as Awami Leaguers or Liton's confidant would save them from unnecessary hassles.
"It's a political puzzle going on here since the MP has died," said one Gaibandha official, requesting anonymity.
Meanwhile, police have arrested around a dozen people from both Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami party as well as ordinary "criminals" as part of investigating MP Liton's death, "They (law enforcers) are playing wild cards clearly having no clue yet but trying their best to resolve the mystery," another villager said.
Political aspirants are also active to mark themselves up in a bid to fill Liton's vacant parliament post, various sources said. But in the melee of all the hypes, police say they are still clueless and so far "beating around the bush" with no sign of the birds (killers).
Liton met with the tragic death while another death charge was hanging on himself for allegedly having killed a boy recently with his gun. Though many in his Gaibandha constituency are worried following this grisly incident, Liton's political profile remained strong even after his killing, local sources said.
Police say they are trying to find who might derive "short and long term" benefits out of Liton's premature demise.
Sources told The Daily Observer on Tuesday that only few people at Liton parliamentary constituency in Gaibandha are involved in "die-hard" ruling party politics. Intelligences agencies said now many people seem to be ruling party men but they are not real. Even many relatives of Liton are not involved with ruling party politics.
The Awami League lawmaker from Sundarhanj Upazila was shot several times at his house in the evening of Dec 31. Later died at a Rangpur hospital.
Police on detained two persons, including a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, for their suspected involvement in the murder of Liton during a raid on Monday. Sundarganj police OC Atiar Rahman said.
One of them is Gaibandha town Islami Chhatra Shibir (student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami) unit President Abdullah Al Mamun. Police did not reveal identity of the other person held. "The two are being interrogated," OC Rahman told The Daily Observer.
Ealier, eight persons including a local Awami League leader and a Jamaat leader had been put on remand in connection with Liton murder case, lodged by his sister Tahmida Bulbul.
The absconding former Jamaat-e-Islami MP Abu Saleh Mohammad Abdul Aziz Mia alias Ghoramarha Aziz controls large part of Gaibandha Sadar and Sundarganj Upazilas from hideout, sources said, Aziz is a central committee member of the Jamaat which opposed Bangladesh's 1971 independence from Pakistan and collaborated with the Pakistan occupation army.
Aziz was also a lawmaker from Sundarganj (Gaibandha-1) constituency in the 2001-2006 Parliament.
The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered trial on 28 June last year for six men from Gaibandha, including former Jamaat-e-Islami MP Abu Saleh Mohammad Abdul Aziz. They have been charged with genocide, murder, illegal confinement, loot, arson, torture and other heinous crimes during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
The Jamaat MP and his five accomplices -- Mohammad Ruhul Amin alias Manju, Mohammad Abdul Latif, Abu Muslim Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Nazmul Huda and Mohammad Abdur Rahim Mia -- have been indicted for these offences committed in Gaibandha Sadar and Sundarganj Upazilas. They are all absconding.
