Court seeks explanation from jail authorities

NARAYANGANJ, Oct 13 (UNB): A local court dealing with the sensational seven-murder case issued Monday a show-cause notice to the jail authorities as to why former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad was not produced before it during a hearing on the case.

Twenty-one of the 24 accused, now in custody, were produced before the court during the scheduled hearing Monday. However, Tarique and two other RAB men-Billal Hossain and Ruhul Amin-were not produced before the court.

Sources at the court said Senior Judicial Magistrate KM Mahiuddin came up with the order of issuing the show-cause notice as the jail authorities failed to assign any reason for not producing the sacked RAB official before it.

However, sub-inspector Sohel Ahmed of Court Police, said Tarique and Billal Hossain were not produced before the court for their illness while Ruhul Amin is now on a seven-day police remand.

He also said they received a letter from the jail authorities in this regard. However, it could not be produced before the court during the hearing, he said.

Meanwhile, president of Narayanganj Bar Association Sakhawat Hossain Khan, also a counsel for plaintiffs, said they submitted three petitions before the court Monday where they sought explanations as to why Tarique Sayeed was not produced before the court today and why he is being given an VIP treatment at the jail, what progress has been made to bring back prime accused Nur Hossain and as to why charge-sheet is not being pressed in connection with the seven murders.