Bangladesh
Labor Leader Murder Accused in murder of Gazipur labor leader Shahidul arrested in Cox's Bazar
Dhaka, July 14: RAB arrested one of the accused in the case from Cox's Bazar within a few hours of demanding a fair investigation into the murder of Gazipur's popular labor leader Shahidul Islam Shahid in a meeting with the law minister of the US delegation visiting Bangladesh.
RAB-15 Deputy Commander Major Syed Sadiqul Haque said that the person named Akash Ahmed Babul was caught from the hotel-motel area of Cox's Bazar city. Babul's house is in Batteki area of Mirzapur police station in Tangail district.
On June 25, Shahidul Islam went to Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited in Tongir, Gazipur along with two labor leaders to collect the wages and allowances of the workers. After leaving the factory for some distance, they were attacked, which killed Shahidul. A high-level US delegation visiting Bangladesh also spoke to the government about the killing of martyrs, among other issues.
The delegation, led by US Undersecretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Civilian People's Security Azra Jaya, discussed the matter in a meeting with Law Minister Anisul Haque at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The Law Minister told reporters that the United States has asked for a fair investigation into the murder of Shahidul Islam. He said, "They talked about the death of Shahidul Islam. They only said that it would be better if there was a fair investigation. I told them very clearly that Bangladesh does not have the previous culture, that there will be no trial. In Bangladesh, any crime now gets a fair trial subject to a fair investigation. And so it shall be."
Shahidul was the Gazipur District President of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation. Babul's name is number 2 in the case filed in Tongi West Police Station accusing 6 people in his murder. In a press conference about his arrest, RAB official Sadiqul Haque said that Babul "confessed" his involvement in Shahidul's murder during the initial interrogation. Major Sadiqul said without giving any details about the reason for this murder, the process of sending Babul to the police in Gazipur is underway.
Earlier on July 9, the law and order forces arrested the six accused Md. Hanif in this case. Raisul Islam alias Ratul was arrested on the night of July 12. Julhas Ali, Sohail Hasan alias Sohag and Shaheenur Islam alias Shaheen. All of them live in Sataysh and Satayish Chowrasta area of Tongir, working in various garment factories there.
