Complainant leaves locality amid threats, Yaba selling still rampant

Nearly two weeks have passed since female garment worker Kona was killed allegedly by a Yaba trader in the port city's Halishahar area, but police are yet to arrest the accused.

Meanwhile, Billal Hossain, the complainant of the murder case and husband of the victim, went into hiding fearing repercussions by the accused.

Kona Akther Pori, 40, was stabbed to death by Jashim on April 17 just a day after he threatened her of dire consequences as she refused to hide some Yaba tablets at her home in Chotopool, said the case statement.

“After filing the case, I got threats from Jashim's man. Just two days after my wife's murder, when I was walking home, a man also walking near me said aloud that another grave must be dug,” said Billal.

“On April 26, I went to Rab office to request them to arrest the accused as police were unable to do so but Rab-7 officials did not take my complaint. On my way back, a car tried to intercept my CNG-run auto-rickshaw several times,” said Billal, a rickshaw puller who left the area the next day.

Investigation officer of the case, Nazrul Islam, said Jashim was seen two to three times in the locality after the murder. “We chased him once, but could not arrest him,” he said.

Officer-in-Charge of Halishahar Police Station Mahfuzur Rahman said they extended their network to make the arrest soon.

Meanwhile, visiting Chotopol area on Thursday night and yesterday, this correspondent talked to several locals. Requesting anonymity, they said drug trading is still going on every day.

The drug sellers have deployed their people at the entrance of the alley and on main road to inform them about any raid and movement of visitors.

There is an alley, named Dail Goli, where narcotics are sold only to familiar buyers, they added.

Jashim was a chauffeur of an enlisted drug trader Karim alias Dail Karim, who controls the Yaba trade in the area, they added.

About the Dail Goli, police said they arrested two persons with firearms including Dail Karim's brother during a drive conducted there before the murder.