Deputy speaker blames failure to try policemen's killers for Liton murder, seeks security for MPs

MP Manjurul Islam Liton would not have died if those involved in the killings of policemen in an attack on a police camp at Bamondanga in Gaibandha's Sundarganj around four years ago were tried, Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah has said.

Miah, an MP from the Gaibandha district, spoke before a namaz-e-janaza of Liton at Shahbaz in Sundarganj on Monday.

Bamondanga near the MPs house is a Jamaat-e-Islami stronghold.

After Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to death for war crimes on Feb 28, 2013, the leaders and activists of the party attacked a police camp in the area, killing four policemen and two others.

"If those accused in the case (over the attack on police camp) could be identified, arrested and tried, the murder of Liton would not have happened," Miah said.

Blaming 'negligence of some officials' for the failure to try the attackers, he hoped the same would not happen to Liton murder case.

Earlier in the day, Miah said he sought personal security arrangements for MPs from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Awami League lawmaker Liton was shot dead at his home in Gaibandha's Sundarganj on Saturday evening.

Miah, speaking to the media after the funeral prayers of Liton at the Parliament complex, said, "I have spoken to the prime minister about the personal security of all the MPs. She will surely agree with us and arrange personal security for the MPs."

The last time Awami League lawmakers were killed was when the party was in the opposition during BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami's 2001-2006 tenure.

Workers' leader and Gazipur MP Ahsanullah Master was shot dead at a rally in Tongi on May 7, 2004.

On Jan 27 the next year, former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria was killed in a grenade attack when he was coming out of a rally in Habiganj.

BNP leaders were accused in both cases. In June last year, the High Court upheld death sentences for six, including BNP leader Nurul Islam, for murdering Ahsanullah.

The trial of 32 persons, including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, former Sylhet mayor Ariful Haq Chowdhury, and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Bangladesh leader Mufti Hannan, is under way over the murder of Kibria.

Police are yet to identify the killers of MP Liton. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said 18 persons have been detained for questioning. Liton's sister Fahmida Bulbul Kakoli started a case at Sundarganj Police Station on Sunday night against five unidentified persons.

The Awami League leaders have pointed the finger at Jamaat-e-Islam, which has denied the allegation, saying the ruling party always blames them to conceal the truth.

Before Liton's funeral prayers at the Parliament complex, Deputy Speaker Miah said, "Liton has died prematurely. It's a Jamaat-Shibir conspiracy. Liton's fault was that he did not let Ghulam Azam (war crimes convict former Jamaat chief) set foot on Sundarganj."

Asked whether gunmen will be deployed for MPs' security, Awami League Join t General Secretary Mahbub-Ul Alam Hanif told reporters: "Public representatives have to go to their areas and engage with the people in various ways. That's why they should be given security."