Staff Reporter :
Taleya Rehman, wife of senior journalist and pro-BNP intellectual Shafik Rehman, has said that her husband went to USA a few years ago to verify the ‘rumour of financial irregularities’ about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wajed Joy.
But it does not mean that there was a relation [with Shafik Rehman] about the abduction or murder plan against Joy, as because the allegation in this regard was rejected in the US court a few years back, she claimed. “I am afraid hearing some recent remarks of government high-ups, including Prime Minister and Joy, about Shafik Rehman. I think, these comments are one-sided, untrue and misleading. I also fear whether the investigation of the case will follow the right track. I’m not sure whether we will get justice, or not,” she said while addressing a press conference at her Eskaton residence in the city on Monday.
Replying to a query, she said, “Shafik Rehman had met FBI agent Robert Lustyik. But so far I know he was not involved in financial dealings with Robert Lustyik to buy any information. He went there after knowing that information was collected by the US authority about Joy. But it was many days ago, in 2012… In the meantime, he also didn’t write anything over the issue.” Taleya said that, he [Shafik] went to the USA in 2012 to investigate the matter. The related documents about the issue were kept under his possession for the last three years, which were seized by the police. “I suspect, Shafik has been subjected to physical and mental torture. After his arrest, PM’s son Joy has been posting false statuses on his facebook page one by one. These are not only tarnishing the image of Shafik, but also influencing the ongoing investigation,” she claimed.
She urged the journalists to publish the news after verifying its potentiality, which are now supplied by the detective branch of police. “I also fear Shafik may be subjected to inhuman torture during second phase remand to get false statement through his mouth……apparently to prove their [Joy and others] remarks true before the nation,” she noted.
Terming Shafik Rehman a ‘patriot’, Taleya urged the Prime Minister for his release by cancelling remand and cases. “He is seriously ill. We have informed the authority about his sickness, but no initiative was taken till the date for his check-up. I fear his death due to illness and torture in this old stage of life,” she added. Earlier on April 20, Taleya Rehman said that the allegation brought against her husband was totally baseless and fictitious. “As his wife, I know him for 59 years. He can never be involved in any criminal activity,” she said.
Detective Branch personnel arrested Shafik Rehman, a noted journalist, opinion-maker and former editor of the daily Jaijaidin, from his Eskaton house in Dhaka on April 19.
