Two years have passed since the allegation of the murder of former Awami League member of parliament Anwarul Azim Anar in India, yet the police have not been able to conclude the investigation.
An officer involved in the case said that they are still unable to confirm whether the person whose death has been reported is indeed Anar.
Anar, who had been a member of parliament for three terms, went missing on 11 May 2024 after travelling to India for medical treatment. His friend, gold trader Gopal Biswas, filed a general diary in Kolkata, which led to an investigation in both countries. Kolkata police later revealed that Anar had been deliberately murdered at a house in the city.
A case was filed in connection with the incident, and Anar’s daughter, Mumtarin Ferdous Doreen, also filed a case for abduction with the intent to murder with the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka.
A week after Anar’s disappearance, his dismembered body was found in a septic tank at his last known location. To confirm his identity, Doreen provided DNA samples in November. The investigation agency in Bangladesh has yet to receive the DNA test results.
An officer from the investigation team mentioned that the progress of the case is largely dependent on the DNA test and other reports.
After the case passed through local police and DB investigation, it is now being handled by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The latest deadline for submitting the investigation report was set for 6 May, but the CID could not submit it on that day. The investigation agency has been granted a total of 19 extensions to submit the report.
When asked about the investigation’s progress, CID Police Inspector Khan Md Irfan told TIMES of Bangladesh, “We have requested the DNA report through Interpol. This request was made nearly four months ago, but we have not received any documents yet. We are still unsure whether this individual is former MP Anar.”
He said that there has been some progress in the investigation in Bangladesh, but noted that certain details cannot be disclosed for the sake of the investigation.
Doreen expressed her disappointment with the investigation, stating that despite two years having passed, the suspects are now out on bail. “The investigation is ongoing, but I don’t understand how they are granted bail despite the case being unresolved,” she told TIMES.
She also mentioned the personal challenges she faces: “I have no father, and the government has imprisoned my husband for his involvement in the student politics of Chhatra League,” she added.
A lawyer representing the defence claimed the case was “completely false” and said, “This case was filed due to political vengeance. Also, the confessions of the accused were mostly obtained at night. All of them were pre-written and typed on computers.”
Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruki said, “The nature of the case involves two countries, and the crime scene is also located in both countries. The investigation officers are taking time to gather information from both countries.”
He assured that the state is prepared and said, “Once the report arrives, it will be dealt with seriously.”
On 12 May 2024, Anar arrived in India and stayed at his friend Gopal Biswas’ house in Baranagar. The following day, he left to seek medical treatment but was allegedly murdered in a flat in New Town’s Sanjiva Garden, according to Kolkata police.
The matter became public only 10 days later. On 22 May that year, then-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal confirmed in a press conference that Anar had been murdered in Kolkata in a planned manner.
Based on the information provided by Indian police, Bangladesh’s police arrested several individuals. However, Akhtaruzzaman Shaheen, who was named as the main perpetrator of the murder, fled to the United States via Kathmandu, Nepal, as confirmed by the then-home minister.
In connection with the case, Kolkata police arrested a butcher named Jihad Howlader. Later, the assistant of Shaheen, Siam Hossain, was arrested in Kathmandu and handed over to Indian authorities.
Based on information obtained from Siam during interrogation, Kolkata’s CID recovered some bones near a ditch in the Krishna Mati area of Bhangar’s Bijayganj Bazar.
Later, in August of the same year, the Kolkata CID submitted an almost 1,200-page charge sheet to the North 24 Parganas Barasat District Court, naming Jihad Howlader and Mohammad Siam as accused in the case.
So far, seven people from Bangladesh have been arrested in connection with the case. They include Saidul Karim Mintu, general secretary of Jhenaidah District Awami League; Kazi Kamal Ahmed Babu, relief and social welfare secretary of the district; Syed Amanullah Aman, also known as Shimul Bhuiyan; Faisal Ali Saji, also known as Tanveer Bhuiyan; Celeste Rahman; Mostafizur Rahman; and Faisal Ali.
Of these seven, six have given confessional statements in court, except for Mintu.
Mintu and Babu, also known as Gas Babu, are currently out on bail from the High Court.
