CID arrest Sylhet press photographer as a suspect over blogger Ananta Bijoy Das murder

Police have arrested a press photographer of a local newspaper in Sylhet for his suspected involvement in the May 12 murder of blogger Ananta Bijoy Das.

Staff Correspondentand Sylhet Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 June 2015, 11:45 AM
Updated : 28 August 2015, 03:34 PM

The Criminal Investigation Department took him on a seven-day remand of questioning. 

Idris Ali, 24, who works for ‘Sobuj Sylhet’, was picked up in the early hours of Monday from his residence in Saheb Bazar on the outskirts of the city, CID’s Special Superintendent of Police (organised crime) Mirza Abdullahil Baki, confirmed bdnews24.com. 

However, Idris’ family claimed he was picked up from the city on Sunday night and the CID men raided their house later on.

The investigation officer of the case, CID Dhaka Zone’s Inspector Arman Ali, on Monday evening took Ali to Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrates Court and asked for 15 days’ remand. 

Magistrate Farhana Yasmin granted custody for seven days after a hearing.

Idris’ wife Nipa Begum told bdnews24.com her husband did not return from office on Sunday. 
 
CID men raided their house around 2am on Monday when she learnt he had been arrested. 

“They were looking for Idris’ computer, but could not find it. They left with two of his shirts.”

His younger brother ‘Yahiya’ said they found Idris’ motorcycle near Sylhet Metropolitan Police headquarters. 
 
Baki told bdnews24.com: “We arrested Idris as a suspect. 
 
“We think questioning him will get us information about the murder. So we have taken him into remand.”

On May 12, four assailants hacked to death secular blogger Das in Sylhet two months after the killing of writer-blogger Avijit Roy.

He was an activist of the Ganajagaran Mancha, the forum demanding a ban on Islamist parties and maximum penalty for convicted war criminals.

The 31-year-old used to blog on 'Mukto-mona’, a website propagating rationalism and opposing fundamentalism started by Roy, who was killed in February in Dhaka.