Family demands speedy trial in Shaker murder, alleges threats from the accused's side

The family of Shaker Hossain, a much-discussed Jubo Dal leader from Khulna, has demanded a speedy trial over his murder. At the same time, they have alleged that relatives of one of the arrested accused are threatening them, and have informed the police administration seeking protection.

The family members raised these allegations at a press conference held at noon on Tuesday (10 November) at the house of the slain Shaker in Parnanduali village of Magura.

Present at the press conference were Shaker's wife Sharmin Nahar, his maternal uncle Abu Saeed, his elder brother Rajmir and his cousin Arman.

The family alleged that Ali Hossain, the elder brother of the arrested Maruf — who is accused of being the main planner of the murder — and an assistant general secretary of the district Jubo Dal, has been threatening them in various ways. They said they have informed the police administration about it.

The family complained that even after 20 days since the murder, the police have not been able to arrest those who directly shot and killed him. They demanded that they be arrested immediately and brought to a speedy trial.

Notably, the police investigation has found that on 21 October, Shaker was shot dead by hired killers under a contract worth Tk 20 lakh, following a dispute over sharing the gold bars looted in a robbery.

Thirteen days after the murder, police said at a press briefing that 11 people had been arrested in two cases — one for murder and one for the gold robbery — and that 61 bhori and six ana of gold had been recovered.

Magura Superintendent of Police Molla Azad Hossain said necessary action would be taken if a written complaint was received about the threats from the accused's side.

The superintendent of police said that on 6 October, a robbery took place on a Golden Line bus coming from Dhaka in the Ramnagar area of Magura. The robbers, identifying themselves as police, looted 14 gold bars weighing 150 bhori from Mojibur Rahman of Manikganj.

According to police, 12 to 15 people took part in the robbery, including Maruf Hossain, former convener of the municipal Swechchhasebak Dal, and Shaker Hossain, joint secretary of the municipal Jubo Dal. A dispute arose between Maruf and Shaker over sharing the looted gold. The investigation found that, following that dispute, hired killers were engaged for Tk 20 lakh through Golam Zahid, former convener of the Magura district Swechchhasebak Dal, and Shaker was killed in the early hours of 21 October.

Robbery and murder cases have been filed at Magura police station in connection with the incident. Police said a total of 11 people have been arrested so far in the two cases.

Those arrested in the murder case are Roni Shikder, Shamima Tabassum, Animesh Majumder, Maruf Hossain, Golam Zahid and Bashir Ali. Those arrested in the gold robbery case are Maruf Hossain, Golam Zahid, Jewel Hossain, Tokir Ahmed, Farid Mandal, Milton of Pashu Hospital Para and his wife Marufa Khatun.

Police also said that so far 61 bhori and six ana of gold, two motorcycles and a private car have been recovered. The superintendent of police assured that the remaining accused, including those directly involved in the murder, would be brought under the law soon.