Bulbul seeks security from PM after brother’s ‘killing’

Lyricist and music director Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, also a witness in the on-going war crimes trials, on Sunday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to provide security to him and his family.

The freedom fighter made the call hours after the body of his younger brother, Ahmed Miraz, was recovered from Kuril Flyover in Dhaka.

The eminent musician had testified against former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam on Oct 5 last year as the 14th prosecution witness at the International Crimes Tribunal -1.

On Miraz’s autopsy report, lecturer of the Forensic Department of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital Sohel Mahmud told bdnews24.com: “Though no visible wounds were apparent, Miraz had blood clots inside his mouth, in the back of his head and inside his chest. His nose was broken.”

“I think his mouth was stuffed and then he was gagged to death.”

Railway police recovered the body from the east of the Khilkhet-Kuril flyover at around 1am Sunday, Khilkhet Police Station OC Shamim Hossain has said.

The family feels the Miraz was killed to avenge Bulbul’s testimony against Ghulam Azam.

Earlier in the day, Miraz’s body was taken to the Moghbazar residence of Bulbul. Relatives were devastated by the death.

Speaking to journalists there, Bulbul said his whole family was facing lack of security following the murder.

Asked who could be behind the murder, Bulbul said,” I can’t say correctly. But the whole nation will say that testifying against Ghulam Azam led to my brother’s death.”

“It’s been seven months since I testified against Ghulam Azam. But the government overlooked the issue of providing security to the witnesses.”

“I have been under house arrest of sorts since I testified,” he added.

Seeking security from the Prime Minister, he said the country needs a ‘great war’ to return to its previous state in the wake of the recent covert attacks.

Rokhshana Tanzeem Mukul, elder sister of the slain 48-older told bdnews24.com, Miraz was wearing a blue shirt, black pant, shoes and a sunglass when he got out from home at 10am on Saturday.

”Just before going out Miraz asked me how he was looking. I replied- Miraz you are looking nice today,” said an emotional Mukul.

Mukul said Miraz had talked about going to Basundhara City in Karwan Bazar area to watch a movie before he went out on that day.

Asked about his brother’s job, she said,” Miraz ran a Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) agency at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport along with his friends. He had a car business too.”

Asked whether her brother had received any death threat earlier, she said,” Miraz never told me anything like that.”

Also present at the residence of Bulbul, ICT investigation official M Sanaul Haque said it was the government’s duty to ensure the security of all the witnesses (in the war crimes trials).

“All the witnesses have been given security across Bangladesh,” he said.

He said Bulbul had been provided with security by people in plain clothes.

“If he (Bulbul) wants, he can be given the usual security too,” he said.

Bulbul had testified that before his eyes the Pakistani army took away police officer Shiru Mia and his son Kamal along with 37 others from Brahmanbaria jail for killing.

He said he had later heard that all 39 had been killed at Koiratola on that November night, which happened to be the night of Eid-ul-Fitr in 1971.

Wahidul Alam Junu, who had deposed on Feb 12 as the 19th witness against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, also died mysteriously in February.

Intelligence officials believe there is a 'systematic attempt' to terrorise the witnesses who are testifying against those facing war crime charges and also the organisers of the Ganajagaran movement.