Mitu Murder: ‘Vital info' gleaned from Babul

A detective on Thursday claimed to have gleaned “vital information” after quizzing former superintendent of police Babul Akter in connection with the case over the murder of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu.

The information would definitely help the probe, said Mohammad Kamruzzaman, the IO of the case and additional deputy commissioner (DB) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

He had quizzed Babul for about three hours.

On the morning of June 5, three bike-riding assailants killed Mitu near her Nizam Road house in the port city when she was taking her son to his school bus stop. Later, Babul filed a murder case which is being investigated by the Detective Branch (DB) of the CMP.

 On Thursday, Babul, who now lives in the capital, went to the IO's office at the CMP headquarters for the interrogation following repeated requests.

“I had talked to Babul Akter several times over the phone after his wife's murder. I was requesting him to come to my office as there are some issues that I did not want to discuss with him over the phone,” Kamruzzaman said.

The IO also said Babul was asked about the main suspect, Kamrul Sikder alias Musa. In reply, he said he “knew” Musa for many years. “They had a very good relationship,” he said, quoting Babul.

Musa reportedly worked as a police source for Babul. Kamruzzaman said Babul became emotional while being quizzed. He also wanted to know whether there was any headway in the probe.

Babul did not meet any of his former colleagues during his stay at the CMP headquarters from 9.45am to 12.45pm. He walked out of the IO's office, got into a car and left, said some CMP officials.

The IO said Babul might be asked to come in again. He further said he had talked over the phone with Mitu's father Mosharraf Hossain, who is also a former police officer living in Dhaka.

“I have also requested him to come to my office as I need to talk to him on some vital issues,” he said.

Asked whether there was any headway in the case, Kamruzzaman said the investigation had passed “the half way”.

“We have arrested seven accused but some other accused, including Musa, are absconding,” he said, adding, “Our intelligence wing is working on arresting them.

“I will try to submit the charge-sheet of the case as soon as possible,” he added.

Police had quizzed Babul for around 15 hours after “taking” him from his father-in-law's house at Banasree in the capital on June 24.

Later, police said Babul resigned from his post. After that Babul claimed that he had not resigned willingly. He reportedly requested the Ministry of Home Affairs for withdrawal of his resignation on August 9.

On September 6, a gazette notification from the ministry said, “Babul Akter has been terminated from his job upon his application.”