Shamim Osman admits talking to Nur

The Awami League MP AKM Shamim Osman has admitted that he spoke to Nur Hossain over telephone after Narayanganj Ward-2 Councillor Nazrul Islam and six others were abducted on April 27. Nur Hossain is the prime accused in the case filed over the abduction and murders of the 7 men, including panel mayor Nazrul and senior lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker. Nur is currently a fugitive from justice. Osman at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence on Friday expressed concern for the safety of the lives of his family members and himself. He also sought security for Rafiur Rabbi, father of murdered teenager Tanvir Mohammad Twaki, who has been campaigning against the ruling party MP. Osman said Nagarik Andolan leader Rabbi's life could be in danger too. After admitting that he had a conversation with Nur Hossain after the Apr 27 multiple abductions, Osman said, "But the report Prothom Alo ran was not complete and was motivated." His remarks came after the Bangla-language daily carried a report on Friday on the audio clip of the telephone conversation between him and Nur Hossain. The report said the conversation had taken place only two days after the abduction. Osman told reporters the audio clip was from an 'intelligence agency'. "Those who released the tape did so to save themselves. I don't know whether I will live tomorrow." He pointed the finger at Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) asking why he was not arrested when the conversation with Nur was being recorded. "They use modern technology. (They) record our conversation and release it. If they had detected Nur Hossain's whereabouts, why he was not arrested?" The MP from the ruling party claimed a RAB official had threatened him if he were to allege the elite force's involvement in the seven murders. "A Major-level officer of RAB called me over telephone and said 'if I'm not saved, you won't be either'. When I asked in return, 'What?', he said again ‘if we are not saved, you all won’t be saved either’.” The newspaper report on Friday said Osman had helped Narayanganj City Corporation's Ward-4 Councillor Nur Hossain to flee Bangladesh. After their abductions on Apr 27, dead bodies of Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar and five others were found floating on the Shitalakhyya River several days later, according to bdnews24.com.