Rathis’s assistant dies in Rangpur

Milon Mohonto, the personal assistant of lawyer Rathis Chondro Bhowmik who was murdered late last month, has died at a Rangpur hospital on Friday night.

Police said Milon, 30, died at 8:30pm while he was undergoing treatment at the Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

“He was arrested on Apr 5 following the death of Rathis. He subsequently became sick and was admitted to the hospital,” said Jailer Amzad Hossain at the Rangpur Central Jail.

However, he could not state the cause of Milon’s death.

Rangpur Central Jail Physician Irfan Ali, who treated Milon, told the bdnews24.com that a heart attack may have been the cause of his death.

“The cause of death can be determined after an autopsy,” he said.

Asked about what diseases Milon suffered, RMCH Director Ajay Kumar Roy said, “Milon was admitted to the hospital at 6:42 pm on Apr 5. He died on 8:30 pm on Friday. An autopsy will be conducted soon.”   

Rathis Chondro Bhowmik went missing on the morning of Mar 30. He was a witness in the war crimes case against Jamaat Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam, who was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal and has his appeal in front of the Supreme Court Appellate Division.

Police found Rathis’s dead body on Apr 4, following the arrest of his wife and some others.

The next day police presented Milon at the Rangpur court to give testimony. He was unable to give testimony due to his illness and the court sent him to jail.

Rathis’s brother Subal filed a case over his death at the Kotowali Police Station on Apr 1 without naming any suspects.

Rathis’s wife Dipa, Dipa’s co-worker and teacher Kamrul, two of their students and Rathis’s personal assistant Milon have been arrested over the incident.

Kamrul and Dipa have confessed to the murder under section 164.

Rathis was also a state witness in the murders of Japanese national Kunio Hoshi and shrine caretaker Rahmat Ali.