Home minister does a turnaround, says recent murders are target killings

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who had earlier described the killings of a Rajshahi University teacher and a prison guard as ‘stray incidents’, has now changed his stand.

After the killing of a rights activist and his friend within hours of his statement on Monday, Kamal did a turnaround, saying the crimes were ‘target killings’ intended to destabilise the country.

The minister said there could be links among the murders.

Rajshahi University English Department professor AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee was hacked to death in Rajshahi on Saturday and former prison guard Rustam Ali shot dead in Gazipur on Monday.

Speaking to reporters that day, Kamal claimed they were stray incidents and that the situation was under the control.

Gay-rights activist Xulhaz Mannan and his friend theatre artiste Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy were hacked to death at Xulhaz’s Kalabagan residence within hours of his statement.

On Tuesday, the minister swung 180 degrees, telling reporters: “There were conspiracies to impede the country’s development. Now, plots are being hatched locally and internationally.

“Target killings are being committed to destabilise the situation.”

Before Kamal made this new statement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said at a meeting with her party leaders on Monday night that the Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP were committing ‘clandestine murders’ to destabilise the country.

Several online activists, writers, university teachers, a cultural activist and a publisher were killed in the past one year in suspected militant attacks.

Most of them were hacked to death.

Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) reportedly claimed responsibility for killing Xulhaz and Tonoy, while the Middle East-based Islamic State took credit of Prof Rezaul’s murder.

The home minister, however, dismissed the claim as ‘fake’ and said ‘beneficiaries’ including the 20-Party alliance were behind the murders.

Asked who might have been involved in the Kalabagan double murders, he said, “It’s premature to comment. The killers have left some evidence. A probe will reveal everything.”

The minister also said more time would be needed to solve the mystery shrouding Comilla college student Sohagi Jahan Tonu’s murder.