The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

The detective branch of police Thursday arrested Administrative Officer of Speedy Trial Tribunal(STT) ,Rajshahi, Abu Zafar during a transaction of kickback of Tk 200,000 in the sensational Monsur Mridha murder case.

Acting on a tip off, a team of plain clothed policemen took position around the house at Chalk Enayetpur in Naogaon at about 4pm. After a while, administrative officer of STT, Rajshahi, Abu Zafar came out from the house when the police challenged him and recovered four bundles of Tk 500 denomination notes worth Tk 200,000 from his possession. Zafar failed to give satisfactory answer to the police about the source of the money.

However, Zafar told the local journalists that he went to Naogaon to appear as a witness of a case.

Mofazzal Hossain, Superintendent of Police, Naogaon , said they had information that a group was trying to make the verdict of murder case of former BNP Vice-President of Manda upazila of Naogaon district Monsur Rahman Mrida in favour of the accused in exchange for hefty kickback. The DB police conducted the operation and arrested Abu Zafar, Administrative Officer of STT, Rajshahi red handed during the transaction of the kickback.

He further said that Abu Zafar has revealed sensational information to the police, but he did not disclose it for the sake of further enquiry.

Earlier on March-10, 2004, BNP Vice-President Monsur Mridha was shot and slaughtered by the extremists. After the incident, a case was filed accusing several upazila level BNP leaders including Manda thana BNP secretary Dr. Ikramul bari Tipu and former MP Advocate Shaokat Elias Kabir.

The STT in Rajshahi took up the case. Abu Zafar was alleged to have assured the accused to save them in exchange for kickback. So far Tk 12 lakh has been paid in kickback to various persons by the accused, it was learnt.