Staff Reporter with Feni Correspondent :Fulgazi Upazila chairman Ekramul Huq was killed centering internal feud and his rivalry with local Jubo League Leader Jihad Chowdhury over establishment of supremacy. Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, Director Media and Legal Wing of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said this at a press conference in the city on Saturday. Abidul Islam Abid, prime suspect in Fulgazi Upazila chairman Ekramul Huq killing case, shot him first and then torched his car to ensure his death, he said adding between 40-50 people took part in the killing mission. The media briefing was held following the arrest of eight persons in connection with the killing from the capital on Friday night. RAB-1 arrested them in connection with the murder of Ekram from the city’s Bashundhara residential area. Abidul Islam Abid is a cousin of Nizam Uddin Hazari, MP of Feni-2. Abid is a son of general secretary of Mahila Awami League of Feni. Those arrested have been identified as Abid, Kazi Shanan Mahmud, Zahidul Hasan Shourab, Md Jihad Chowdhury, Shahjalal Uddin Shipon, Chowdhury Md Nasir Uddin Onik, Sajjadul Islam Patwary and Md Helal Uddin.” RAB is trying to arrest remaining others who have been named during interrogation of persons already detained,” he added.”The pistol used to kill the Upazila chairman was supplied by Jihad Chowdhury. As part of their conspiracy , Abid had opened the firing”, Wing Commander Habibur Rahman said.”The conspiracy to eliminate Ekramul Huq was finalized on the night of May 19 as per plan of Zihad Chowdhury at Feni Gymnasium,” he said. At least five pistols were used in the attack and all the firearms were supplied by Jahid Chowdhury, a local Jubo League leader, he said.Of the eight detained, seven actively participated in the killing mission while the other one was the mastermind, he further said. As soon as the car of Ekramul reached near the cinema hall, the killers created an artificial traffic jam using some human haulers to obstruct his car, according to the video footage of the incident recorded by some eye witnesses. Meanwhile, Feni Police arrested three more persons from different parts of the town on Friday night, reports our Feni Correspondent quoting Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahbub Murshed.”We are trying to ascertain whether they had involvement in the killing incident,” the OC said. On Tuesday, 47-year-old Ekramul Haque, a twice elected chairman of Fulgazi Upazila, was shot and burnt alive by a gang of criminals in the Academy area of Feni district town.Abdullahhil Mahmud Shiblu, Ward Councilor of Feni Pourasha and president of Ward Awami League surrendered to Feni Model thana on Saturday as his name was given during interrogation by those who have already been detained in connection with the case. Paritosh Ghosh, Superintendent of Police (SP) said this at a press briefing on Saturday morning. Those arrested in Dhaka would be taken to Feni , he said. He further said that Shiblu would be quizzed following interrogation of those already arrested in Dhaka. Prior to surrender to police, Shiblu told the media that he had no enmity with Ekram. He also claimed himself as innocent. Meanwhile, supporters of Ekramul continued their demonstration for the third day on Saturday demanding immediate arrest of the masterminds of the killing. They also held a human chain participated by members of all walks of life in front Upazila Parishad. They raised the demand for arrest of conspirators of the killing and their exemplary punishment failing which the movement would be intensified.
