The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mamunur Rashid

Kolkata police has arrested five accused who were sentenced to death for murdering an Awami League parliamentarian Ahsanullah Master.

The five, who fled Bangladesh after being sentenced to death, were nabbed by the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) late Sunday night from Kolkata.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of CID sleuths arrested Nazrul Islam alias Dipu, Jakir Husain alias Rupak, Wadud Islam alias Tipu, Safayat Ahmed alias Manju and Zisan from a bus stand at Garia locality in South 24-Pargana.

On May 7, 2004, gunmen shot and killed Awami League parliamentarian Ahsanullah, also the president of Jatiya Sramik League. In this incident 17 others were injured in a burst of fire at a biennial conference of Awami Shechchhasebak League, the AL's volunteers front, at Noagaon near the legislator's house in Tongi.

Matiur Rahman, brother of Ahsanullah, filed a murder case with Tongi Police Station on May 8 against 17 people, identifying Nurul Islam Sarker as the mastermind. The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) later completed its investigation in 60 days.

On April 16, 2005, a Dhaka court handed down death sentences to 22 people and life terms to six others for assassinating Ahsanullah.

"The Interpol had also issued a look-out notice against the five criminals who fled from the country a few years ago."

According to CID sources, the four-member team was operating a crime syndicate in neighbouring Bangladesh through telephone from Garia locality.

They had come to West Bengal last year and rented a house at Garia locality.