Daily Star
Regional News
Volume 3 Number 951 Mon. May 13, 2002
Three weeks after the murder of Buddhist monk Gyanojoti Mohasthabir in
Raozan, police are yet to arrest the prime suspect, Azizul Haq, allegedly
sheltered by an influential leader of ruling BNP in the area.
Police say he is 'absconding'. Azizul Haq, ring leader of notorious Aziz
Babihi, is wanted by police in 22 other cases.
Some sources in police and other circles say the motive behind the murder
will be known if Aziz can be arrested.
Gyanojoti Mohasthabir, 52, founder of Wara Punya Bouddha Anathalaya (a
Buddist temple cum orphanage) at Hingala village in Raozan upazila, was
killed by miscreants in his bedroom in the complex on the night of April 21.
Police later arrested Nipu Barua, wife of Gyanojoti's younger brother Sulal
Barua, two neighbours and a teacher at orphanage on suspicion. Police
interrogated them in remand but failed to find any clue to the murder.
Relatives of the slain monk and people of the Buddhist community in the area
alleged that police arrested them at the behest of the BNP leader to divert
the investigation to save the killers. But the influential BNP leader in
Raozan is still mum on the gruesome murder.
Some sources in police say they suspect that 15 to 20 criminals of Aziz
Bahini including Taslimuddin Montu, Hasan, Gias, Jahur and Nizam were
involved in the killing. "We suspect this gang because Aziz Bahini controls
the vast areas including Yasinnagar, Janipathar, Golachipa, North Sartha,
Haldia rubber garden, South Hingala, Karampati, Radha Madhabpur, Surang,
Banaras, Wahderkhil, Alikhil, Dhalarkhil and Raozan rubber garden adjacent
to the temple," one source said.
Talking to The Daily Star, some people in Hingala and other areas of Raozan
said it is hard to believe that any gang from outside committed the murder
because entrance or movement of unknown faces in the area beyond the
knowledge of Aziz Bahini is impossible. They alleged that the BNP leader has
long been sheltering the Aziz Bahini, which is always with him even if he
changes parties.
Aziz left the country and was in Dubai during Awami League rule. He was
brought back by his 'godfather' during the rule of the caretaker government,
they claimed.A local leader of the ruling party loyal to the influential BNP
leader however said, "My leader never harbours terrorists."
"My leader or our party are not influencing police in any way regarding
the
murder case. It's the failure of police that Aziz is not arrested yet."
Additional SP (north) of Chittagong Aurongazeb Mahbub, when contacted said,
"We are trying to nab Azizul Haq, the prime suspect in the monk murder
case,
following allegations from different quarters.
"As he (Aziz) is absconding, we have arrested his father and are
interrogating him", he said.