Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday reaffirmed that her government will ensure the punishment of the culprits who are behind the sensational Narayanganj seven murders, report agencies.
The Prime Minister came up with the assurance when family members of slain senior lawyer Chandan Sarker met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM's special assistance Mahbubul Hoque Skhakil briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said the Prime Minister turned emotional when she saw Archana Sarker, wife of slain Chandan Sarker, and hugged her.
Chandan Sarker's daughters Dr Sejunti Sarkar, Dr Sushmita Sarkar, Swati Sarker and Shaptarshi Sarker, son-in-laws Dr Bijoy Kumar Pal, Ranjit Debnath and Amit Singha, and granddaughter Roudeshi Sarker were present on the occasion.
Sheikh Hasina told Chandan Sarker's family members that an all-out effort is going on to arrest the culprits behind these inhumane killings. "After hearing the news, I've directed the law enforcement agencies to act quickly to identify and arrest the culprits through a proper investigation," she said.
Hasina also mentioned that the government has already removed the high officials of the local administration, Rab and police. "The government isn't sitting idle," she asserted.
Chandan Sarker's wife Archana Sarker said that they have the firm belief that the Prime Minister could ensure the punishment of all the culprits. She also expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister for the steps that have been taken so far by her government.
Meanwhile, the High Court (HC) issued Sunday a rule asking the Home Secretary for taking immediate steps to arrest three former RAB officials who had been dismissed for their jobs following allegations of their involvement in the killing of seven people in Narayanganj.
In response to a writ petition, an HC Bench of Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice M Khurshid Alam Sarker passed the order.
Three former RAB-11 officials -- Lt Col Tarek Syeed Mahmud, Maj Arif Hossain and Navy's Lt Col MM Rana -- were sent on forced retirement following the allegations of their involvement in the killing of seven people, including Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker.
Dr Kamal Hossain moved the writ petition on behalf of Bijoy Kumar Pal, son-in-law of murdered Chandan Kumar Sarker, Narayanganj Bar Association president Shakhawat Hossain and president of Amra Narayanganjbasi, a citizens' forum, Mahbubur Rahman.
In its rule, the HC said although the former Rab officials were dismissed without any specific allegation under the penal code, necessary steps should be taken to arrest them under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Besides, the HC also sought explanations as to why the existing laws to regulate law enforcing agencies, including the police and RAB, should not be updated to ensure the safety of public life and property as per the constitutional provisions related to the fundamental rights of citizens.
The respondents -- Home Secretary, Law Secretary, Public Administration Secretary and National Human Rights Commission chairman -- were asked to submit their respective compliance reports to the HC bench of Justice M Rezaul Haque and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore.
Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Narayanganj has claimed of making 'significant progress' in the multiple-murder investigation, but added he needed more time to arrest the killers.
"Ten or 12 days after the incident is not a huge time. Give us time, have faith. We want to provide something good," Khandker Mohid Uddin said at a press briefing on Sunday.
Another report adds: Narayangang lawyers announced Sunday fresh programmes demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those who were involved in abductions and killings of seven people.
The programmes were announced from a human chain formed on the court premises. The programmes include staging one-hour work abstention from 9:0am-10am every workday, and forming human chain and bringing out procession every alternative day respectively from 12pm-1:0pm for an indefinite period.
The lawyers also demanded immediate implementation of a HC rule asking the Home Secretary for taking immediate steps to arrest three former RAB officials.
