BNP MP mastermind

Mahbub Alam Hanif, vice-president of Kushtia district AL, made the allegation against the ruling party lawmaker, Prof Shahidul Islam, at a press conference in the capital.

He also said the lawmaker has been torturing the activists of the AL and its front organisations in his constituency.

When contacted, Prof Shahidul Islam dismissed the allegations as false, saying that AL leader Mahbub is trying to achieve political gains out of this incident. "An outlawed group had claimed the responsibility for the killings of the three youths, who hardly had any relation with the BCL," Islam added.

Three BCL activists -- Khan Sanwar Hossain Jibon, vice-president of BCL Mirpur unit of Kushtia, Mizanur Rahman alias Maznu and Liton Ali -- were stabbed and then strangled at Nouda Azampur village on March 24.

Mahbub, who was defeated in the last national election from Kushia-2 constituency, told reporters yesterday that Prof Shahidul, also Kushtia district BNP president, has resorted to repression on AL and BCL leaders and activists after the election.

Before the three were killed, the lawmaker's men threatened to teach them a lesson, he said.

"While two outlawed groups had claimed the responsibility for the killings, the local police said BCL's internal feud led to the killings," he said. "How come two groups claim the responsibility for the same incident," he questioned.

The AL leader sought the intervention of State Minister for Home Lutfuzzaman Babar in finding out the real culprits and demanded security for his men in the area.