2 AL leaders supervised Ekram murder
It has been more evident that Phulgazi upazila council chairman Ekramul Haque was killed by his own party Awami League's terrorists.
Names of Jahid Chowdhury and councillor Shiblu surfaced who are thought to be the executors of the murder plan. They are very close to lawmaker Nizam Hazari.
Shiblu accompanied Nizam Hazari to the Qulkhwani [an after-death prayer session] of Ekram at his Masterpara house.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police said they are trying to nab chief supervisor and arms provider of the attack, Jahid Chowdhury.
Councillor Shiblu surrendered to Feni police station Saturday afternoon. Earlier, RAB arrested 8 young men Abidul Islam, Zahidul Islam alias Saikat, Chowdhury Nafiz Uddin Anik, Qazi Shanan Mahmud, Sazzadul Islam Patwary alias Sifat, Shahjalal Uddin alias Shipon, Zahid Hossain Bhuiyan and Helal Uddin in this connection.
RAB said Awami League leader Jahid Chowdhury gave five pistols [handguns] for the murder. Abid, Shanan, Sifat, Sani and Shaikat carried the guns during the incident. 'Ruti Sohel' had his own gun. A few people among the attackers, including the gunmen, knew about the murder plan.
The other attackers were provided with sharp weapons, iron rods and sticks.
Among them Abid is cousin of Nizam Hazari and son of district Women Awami League general secretary Anjuman Ara.
Abid on Saturday told the journalists at RAB headquarters that a meeting was held on May 19 at the local Salam Community centre. He and 'Ruti Sohel' could not enter the meeting room as it was closed from in side. He said that Jahid Chowdhury, councillor Shiblu and others attended the meeting.
Abid said that Jahid Chowdhury told them after the meeting that they have to brawl with Ekram after dragging him down from his car, tearing his panjabi and thrashing his car.
Abid, Shanan, Sifat, Shipon, Anik, Shaikat, Sani, Mohon and Rahat gathered at the GA Academy [a school] from Trunk Road on May 19 night. There they discussed some tactics for the attack.
Jahid Chowdhury called Abid at about 11:30pm at Eidgah Moidan on Mizan Road. Abid and 'Ruti Sohel' met Jahid there. Jahid Chowdhury told them that they have to kill Ekram. Otherwise, Ekram might kill Jahid. Ultimately, it was the final order for Ekram murder.
Earlier, witnesses said that Abid shot Ekram first. Abid himself admitted to RAB that he shot fire first. He claimed that he initially fired blank. After two rounds of firings, he took Shanan's pistol and shot at the rear window of Ekram's car. Later, they returned the guns to Jahid Chowdhury.
Shahjalal Shipon admitted to police that he attacked with machete during the incident. He said Jahid Chowdhury and councillor Shiblu told him to wait with his companions in front of Bilashi Cinema.
He was told that there would be a "showdown" of Awami League and there could be "chaos". The night before the incident, some sharp weapons, machetes and iron rods were kept near the stadium gymnasium.
From there, Shipon hide a machete in the back of his jeans to take part in the attack.
In RAB's interrogation Jahidul Shaikat said that like others he also came to the gymnasium on the day of attack. Councillor Shiblu at about 9:15am told the young men that a jeep will reach here after a while, you have to block its way.
Sunny asked him, "Whose car?" In reply Shiblu said, "its a local car. You do not need to know everything."
The arrested young men said that after stabbing and shooting at the car, they took shelter in a lane where a man, Manik, told them to bring the arms from Ekram's car. They snatched the moneybag, cell phones and camera of Ekram and his companions.
Later, some other attackers set the car on fire by pouring kerosene onto it. Bullet-wound Ekram was charred in the fire.