ISPR says allegations made by slain Comilla student Tonu’s mother are baseless

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has dubbed as baseless allegations made by slain Comilla college student Sohagi Jahan Tonu’s mother Anwara Begum.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 23 June 2016, 01:28 PM
Updated : 23 June 2016, 01:57 PM

She has claimed her family is currently under surveillance and that there had been an attempt to run over Tonu’s father.
 
The ISPR issued a statement on Thursday following media reports on Begum’s allegations made at a Ganajagaran Mancha rally in Comilla two days ago.
 
The army had promised all help to police and the local administration in the investigation amidst a nationwide outrage after Tonu’s body was found inside the Comilla Cantonment on the night of Mar 20.
 
Police have been facing harsh criticisms for failing to identify and arrest the killers or achieve a significant breakthrough in the past three months.
 
Amidst the stalemate, Anwara Begum claimed at Monday’s protest rally that her entire family, living in quarters within the cantonment, was under watch and Tonu’s father Yaar Hossain was told not to speak to anyone.
 
She also alleged that an attempt had been made recently to run over her husband, an employee of the Comilla Cantonment Board.
 
Tonu was a history department student at Comilla Victoria Government College. The 19-year-old theatre activist was murdered after she left home to tutor a student who lived nearby.
 
The ISPR statement, signed by Assistant Director Muhammad Reza-ul Karim Shammee, claimed the accusations levelled by Anwara Begum were ‘baseless and incoherent’.
 
They will tarnish the army’s image, it said.

The statement said Yaar Hossain’s family was living inside the army base like all the other families. “Their movements have not been barred in any way.”
 
“After the murder, security guards were deployed in the area where they live for their security and for the sake of the investigation, but they were later withdrawn.”
 
It said those entering the cantonment were questioned to confirm their identities and for security reasons.
 
“This military practice does not aim to harass anyone personally or to curb anyone’s freedom.”
 
The ISPR said Yaar Hossain was getting security like any other staff of the Cantonment Board. “An attempt to kill him is a completely notional matter. Besides, Tonu’s family did not inform anyone about this.”
 
It said Hossain had failed to give his superior official—the cantonment executive officer—any authentic information about the alleged run-over attempt.
 
The statement reiterated the army’s readiness to provide every help to Tonu’s family and help police solve the murder case.
 
“Bangladesh Army also wants, like all people of the country, the killers to be arrested and brought to justice as soon as possible.”