Tufan Sarkar, a Sramik League leader from Bogra, made headlines after his relatives reportedly shaved the heads of his alleged rape victim and her mother.
The man had been spreading terror in town, and the man he relied on most for influence is his brother Motin Sarkar, locals have said.
Police have been searching for Motin, a butcher turned transport owner, whose rise in local politics is credited to his influential friends in the ruling Awami League.
Even though Motin is not a suspect in the rape and assault case which accuses several of Tufan’s relatives, but police want his custody for a murder that happened 16 years ago.
A Bogra court recently issued a warrant against him for the murder of one ‘Ujjal’ in 2001.
Their father Mojibur Rahman used to sell meat and animal hide in Kasaipatti of Bogra’s Chaksutrapur.
Motin, his middle child, became general secretary of the district’s Jubo League unit and its truck owners association after he initiated into politics several years ago.
He was however expelled from Juba League, the youth front for ruling Awami League after Tufan came to be accused of raping a teenage girl.
Tufan was also scrapped from Sramik League, the ruling party’s labour front, as its convener in Bogra.
There have been previous warrants for Motin’s arrest over the 2001 murder, but police failed to catch him.
“The warrant for Motin Sarkar was issued on July 20 but we got it yesterday,” said Bogra Sadar Police Station OC Emdad Hossain.
“We have taken some measures. You’ll get some good news soon.”
Motin has been out of sight of locals in Bogra town, locals have told this news agency. Some are speculating that he escaped to India.
He was not home when this correspondent visited his home at 11am and then again at 5pm on Wednesday.
His offices for the truck owners’ association and personal use are both located in his home. The man is usually home if not called away to take part in meetings and rallies.
Motin’s wife however told bdnews24.com that he was away on business.
His house was buzzing with activities even just few days back. On Wednesday, his wife and child were the only ones home.
Motin’s influence in town relies on his association with Awami League leaders and top administrative officials.
Tufan has followed in his footstep. He entered politics through his brother and Sramik League General Secretary Samsuddin Sheikh Helal, and became its convener few years back.
The 28-year-old earned a reputation in town after he came to be accused for the murder of Emran, a Juba Dal leader from Chaksutrapur whose mangled body was found after his murder in broad daylight on Dec 2 of 2013.
The murder case is one the six cases against Tufan, said Bogra Senior Additional Police Superintendent Arifur Rahman Mandal.
The others describe attempted murder and assault.
There would have been more cases if people had not backed away from filing their complaints out of fear, locals said.
But the alleged rape of a girl who recently passed her Secondary School Certificate would lead to his arrest.
She accused him of raping her several times after luring her with promises to help her get into a good college.
Taking to reporters from a hospital, she said Tufan’s family even proposed marriage when his wife Asha Akhter came to know it.
She is then accused of getting her elder sister Marzia Haan Rumki, a reserved seat councillor, and others to pick up the girl and her mther from their home in Bogra town.
They were beaten up and their heads were shaved off by a hairdresser. The rape and assault case was filed after the incident.
Police have arrested nine of the 10 suspects named in the case.
