8 nabbed for Ekram murder

Eight persons, including seven suspected to be professional killers, have been arrested for their alleged involvement with the killing of Phulgazi Upazila Chairman Ekramul Haque, RAB says.

Those arrested include the prime suspect Abidul Islam Abid.

RAB’s Additional Director General Col Ziaul Ahsan confirmed the arrests to bdnews24.com on Saturday morning.

It was not immediately clear from where or when they were arrested.

Chairman Haque was killed by a group of assailants on May 20 in Feni town.

The miscreants hurled hand-made bombs and opened fire on him before setting his SUV on fire.

Haque was also the president of ruling Awami League’s Phulgazi Upazila unit.

Those detained have been identified as Abid, Kazi Sanan Mahmud, Zahidul Hasan Saikat, Md Zihad, Shajalal Uddin Sipon, Chowdhury Md Nafiz Uddin Onik, Sajjadul Islam Patwary and Md Helal Udin.

RAB claimed Abid and six others, except Helal, had carried out the murder.

Helal had sheltered the killers, claimed RAB.

Abid is a relative of Feni Sadar Awami League MP Nizam Uddin Hazari.

His mother is the general secretary of Feni Mahila Awami League, the party’s woman front.

The MP has vehemently denied allegations of his involvement with the killing.

Col Ahsan said they would brief the media on the arrests on Saturday afternoon.