Libya killings: CID appeals for showing Kamal arrested

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has submitted an application before a Dhaka court to show Kamal Uddin alias Haji Kamal -- a suspected ringleader of a human trafficking -- as arrested in a case filed over the killing of 26 Bangladeshis in Libya last month.

The case was filed on June 2 with Paltan Police Station against 38 named and 35 unnamed people for their alleged involvement with trafficking a number of peopleto Libya, including the 26 who were killed on May 28.

CID Inspector Mizanur Rahman, investigation officer of the case, submitted the petition on Thursday with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka to show Kamal arrested in the case.

Metropolitan Magistrate MdMillat Hossain fixed June 30 for hearing on the petition in presence of the accused. The court will decide on that date whether to show him arrested or not.

In the case, there were three other accused-- Sheikh Mahbubur Rahman, chairman of a recruiting agency; his brother Sheikh ShahidurRshman, managing director of the agency; and Baharul Islam Bachchu, a broker.

The three others were earlier arrested and are now on a four-day remand.

Another Dhaka court on June 2 rejected a bail petition and sent Kamal to jail in connection with a case filed with Bhatara Police Station under the Bangladesh Passport Act.

Rapid Action Battalion on June 2 filed the case under the Passport Act and recovered a total of 31 passports from his possession.

The Rab team arrested him from the capital's Shahjadpur on June 2. Lt Col Rakibul Hasan, commanding officer of Rab-3, on that day said Kamal has trafficked more than 400 people to Libya over the last decade.

Some of the Bangladeshis killed and injured in the shooting incident on May 28 were sent to Libya by Kamal, and their families paid ransoms to him when the victims were held captive and tortured, a Rab official added.