No scope to misinterpreting SP Babul’s ‘interrogation’, DMP chief says

Dhaka police chief has said the overnight interrogation of SP Babul Aktar in the case over his wife’s murder is ‘nothing but a part of a natural process of investigation’.

“There is no need to misinterpret this…no scope,” Asaduzzaman Mia said on Sunday.

“The investigator quizzes the plaintiff, crosschecks the information he has…it’s a natural process,” he added.

SP Babul was picked up from his in-law’s house at Banasree in Dhaka on Friday midnight for interrogation at the Detective Branch headquarters over the murder of his wife Mahmuda Aktar Mitu in Chittagong.

Rumours that Babul was arrested spread as his relatives became concerned when neither Babul nor the related police officers took their phone calls until he returned on Saturday afternoon.

The SP firmly dismissed the rumours. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and police officials’ comments also suggested news of his arrest was not correct.

On Sunday, the DMP commissioner faced journalists’ queries about the matter.

Mia said there was no role played by DMP in Babul’s interrogation, except for providing a car to fetch him and permitting the investigators to use the DB office.

He said Babul was brought to the DB office after he had agreed to be questioned.

“When they (investigators and Babul) felt comfortable...in the morning or afternoon or night...that’s another thing,” he said.

“Both sides agreed to the discussion,” the DMP chief said.

Police in Chittagong questioned two arrested suspects in custody after the murder on June 5.

CMP said they were emphasising militants’ link to the murder as Babul had headed several successful drives against militancy when he had been in Chittagong.

On Sunday, CMP said they arrested two more suspects - the person who shot Mitu dead and another person who was surveying the area.

CMP chief Iqbal Bahar said six to seven persons took part in the murder. “We will understand the motive after nabbing the others,” he said.

Relatives’ allegation

Babuls’ relatives expressed ire over ‘confusing’ reports published by several media outlets over the SP’s questioning.

His father-in-law Mosharraf Hossain, also a retired police officer, said, “...disorderly reports are being published without keeping facts in mind. Some are even publishing reports misinterpreting the family affairs.”

“We refute (these reports),” he said.

He also said Babul was not eager to speak over the matter to anyone.

Babul’s brother-in-law Saidur Rahman said the SP was ‘upset’.