Salman Shah’s mother, Neela Chowdhury, has questioned who is allegedly protecting actor Ashraful Haque, better known as Don, following his arrest in the late actor’s murder case.
Neela questioned why other accused individuals in the case had not yet been arrested.
“Who is protecting Don? Why are these things not coming to light? Why does Dipjol have to say that Don is leaving the country? Those who are connected to him should also be identified,” she said.
Don was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday.
He is an accused in the murder case filed over Salman Shah’s death.
Reacting to his arrest, Neela alleged that Don had threatened her in the past and made various statements about her and her son.
“This Don has threatened me. He has said many things about me and my son. He behaves as though he is above the law. Otherwise, why was he able to attend various events despite being an accused? Why did he make such bold statements?” she said.
Over the past year, Don had been seen at different locations, including Dhaka and Tangail, while remaining active on social media.
He had repeatedly claimed that he was innocent.
Neela said she had expected the accused to be arrested soon after the murder case was filed, but that did not happen.
“My expectation was that I would get justice for my son and that the accused would be arrested quickly. That did not happen. The main accused were still moving around freely,” she said.
She added that she hoped Don would not receive bail.
“He is involved in Imon’s [Salman Shah’s] murder. He must be punished for it,” she said.
Neela became emotional while recalling her past relationship with Don.
She rejected his claim that he had been a close friend of Salman.
“Don has always said that Salman was his friend. That is not true. How could he be my son’s friend? Imon gave him shelter at our home. He would sometimes stay with us. Later, we realised that they were not good people and Don was asked to leave,” she said.
Neela further alleged that Don used to wear Salman’s clothes and take money from him.
“These traitors could never be anyone’s friends without having their own interests,” she said.
Salman Shah died on 6 September 1996. Questions and speculation surrounding the circumstances of his death have continued for nearly three decades.
Last year, 29 years after his death, a court ordered that a murder case be filed.
Neela’s brother, Alamgir Kumkum, subsequently filed the case at Ramna Police Station in Dhaka in October.
Neela alleged that Don had threatened her after the case was filed.
“Don threatened me last September. I had received threats from him before as well. He threatened me and told me to go to the Press Club. Can you imagine? He used to follow my son around and did not even have the courage to speak to us. How could he have gained the confidence to threaten me unless he had powerful backing?” she said.
According to Neela, Don may have received support from influential individuals.
“Even after the murder case was filed last year, no one was arrested. How strange. Who is protecting Don? Why does Dipjol have to say that he is at the airport? They have been openly threatening us for a long time, which is why they became so emboldened,” she said.
Neela also called for Don to be interrogated as part of the investigation.
“Someone must have assured Don that he would be able to leave through the airport. I want the law to ensure that he is not released under any circumstances. If he is remanded for questioning, everything will come out,” she said.
The murder case names 11 accused, including Salman’s former wife Samira Haque, actor Don Haque, Samira’s mother Latifa Haque Lucy, businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, David, Javed, Faruk, Ruby, Abdul Sattar, Saju and Rizvi Ahmed alias Farhad.
Neela concluded by calling for the swift arrest of all those named in the case.
“Even now, the accused are making bold statements. Everyone, including the main accused Samira, should be arrested quickly. We know they are not beyond reach. They are all around us. They must face justice,” she said.
