HC orders progress report by June 4

The High Court (HK) has asked the committee investigating the Narayanganj multiple murders to report progress by June 4, report agencies.

The investigation body, formed at the HC's order, filed its primary report Wednesday and sought a month's time to finish the probe.

On Thursday, the report was presented to the bench of justices Md Rezaul Haque and Gobinda Chandra Tagore.

Meanwhile, the public hearing on the sensational seven murders here has been extended by another working day as the probe body wants to hold another session of hearing.

The seven-member probe body was scheduled to close the public hearing Thursday, but decided to hold another session of the hearing at Siddhirganj Power House Sunday.

Apart from the family members and relatives of the murdered, 66 people have so far given their depositions before the probe body, headed by Shahjahan Ali Mollah, an additional secretary to the Public Administration Ministry, at Narayanganj Circuit House on Monday and Thursday.

Sixty out of the 87 people enlisted for Thursday's hearing turned up and gave their depositions before the probe body, while only six people gave their depositions during the public hearing on May 12.

Shahidul Islam, father-in-law of slain Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam, also gave his deposition during Thursday's hearing.

Emerging from the public hearing, Shahidul told reporters that he is concerned over his security since he has raised complaint about RAB's complicity in the seven murders.

He urged the government to increase his security.

While giving deposition, Shahidul noted that five out of the murdered eight belonged to Siddhirganj area in Narayanganj, and a good number of locals will give their depositions if the hearing was held there.

Besides, the locals are afraid of going to the Circuit House to give their depositions, he added.

The probe body chief, Shahjahan Mollah, at a briefing in the middle of public hearing told reporters that they have decided the hold the next session of the public hearing at the Siddhirganj Power House.

Meanwhile, Shiddhirganj police raided a two-storey building owned by Nur Hossain, the prime suspect of the murders, in the afternoon and seized a revolver along with eight bullets, eight shotgun shells and a deer-hide.

The building is located at Tekpara in Siddhirganj.