Suicide blast suspect was ‘picked up a month ago’

The youth who was identified yesterday as a suspect of the Ashkona “suicide blast” and died later was allegedly picked up by law enforcers “a month ago”.

Kohinur Begum, the landlady who rented her house out to deceased Hanif Mridha, came up with the claim today in conversation with The Daily Star.

“Some Rab men came to the residence along with Hanif on Wednesday and said he was involved with a carjacking gang,” said Kohinur.

A missing diary was filed with Siddhirganj Police Station of Narayanganj in this connection, adds Bangla daily Prothom Alo. Hanif’s brother Md Halim Mia filed the diary on March 4.

His friend Sohel Hossain Montu is also missing till date.

Hanif’s wife Kulsum Begum told the daily, her husband and Sohel went to attend a waz mahfil (sermon session) of the spiritual leader (pir) of Charmonai on February 24.

On their arrival on February 27, seven to eight people identifying themselves as law-enforcers picked them up at gunpoint, Kulsum said. They were taken away in a microbus.