Staff Reporter :
Police have picked up at least 18 persons from different parts of Gaibandha district for questioning over the murder of Sundarganj MP Manzurul Islam Liton.
“We have so far detained 18 people on suspicion that they might have involved in the murder,” Atiur Rahman, Officer-in-charge (OC) of Sundarganj Police Station told The New Nation on Sunday night over phone.
“They have taken to police custody for interrogation over the murder. If their involvement is found they will be shown arrest in this case,” he added.
Liton’s sister Mahmuda Khatun alias Kakoli on Sunday night filed a murder case with the police station accusing several unknown persons.
Meanwhile, the autopsy of Liton was conducted by a forensic team of the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital (RnMCH) on Saturday night.
“Liton died following ‘excessive bleeding’ after the shooting. Five bullets injury marks were found at his body,” Narayan Chandra Shaha, the Head of the RnMCH told reporters at a media briefing on Sunday. He said the final autopsy report will be handed over to the police soon.
In the meantime, the body of slain lawmaker was flown to Dhaka by a helicopter on Sunday afternoon for holding his second Namaz-e-Janaza to be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban at 10:00am today (Monday).
His body was kept at BIRDEM Hospital’s mortuary.
Earlier, the first Namaz-e-Janaza of MP Liton was held at Rangpur Police Lines School and College playground at 12.45pm on Sunday.
Wrapped with the national flag, the coffin of Liton was brought the playground where AL Joint Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanok with other senior leaders placed floral wreaths on the coffin on behalf of the party’s Central Committee.
Led by Additional District Magistrate of Rangpur Rabiul Islam, a smart contingent of police forces gave a guard of honour and bugle played the last post before the Janaza.
AL Organising Secretary of Rangpur Division BM Mozammel Haque, MP, Mayor of Rangpur Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed, DIG of Rangpur Range Khondker Golam Faruk, Acting President of District AL Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, General Secretary Advocate Rezaul Karim Raju, City AL President Shafiur Rahman Shafi took part in the Janaza, among others.
Thousands of local people and AL activists and leaders of other political parties also joined the Janaza.
Meanwhile, a dawn-to-dusk hartal was observed in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha protesting the murder of MP Liton.
During the hartal, supporters of MP Liton and AL activists blocked the rail line at Bamondanga Rail Station around 7:30am halting train movements on the rail route.
“All the shops and business establishments and educational institutions at the municipality area remained closed due to the hartal but no unpleasant incident was reported,” said the Sundarganj OC.
Liton will be buried at his family graveyard today (Monday) after Asr prayers
