BNP MP Offers Tk 2 Million in ‘Blood Money’ in Murder Case Against Son Accused of Killing JCD Leader

Staff Correspondent

BNP MP Abdul Aziz has announced to give Tk 2 million to the family of the deceased, amid the ongoing case against his son, who is accused in the murder of Shakil Islam, a member secretary of the municipal Chhatra Dal in Gurdaspur, Natore.

Tensions arose around Shakil’s announcement before his funeral.

A section of the leaders and activists present shouted slogans of ‘fake fake’ at him. National Assembly Whip and Natore BNP leader M Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu intervened to calm the situation.

Shakil’s funeral was held at the Bilchalon Shaheed Shamsuzzoha College grounds in Natore’s Gurdaspur municipality on Tuesday, October 27. Nuruzzaman Mintu, son of BNP MP Abdul Aziz from Natore-4 (Gurdaspur-Boraigram) constituency, is accused of killing Shakil.

Police arrested Mintu in this incident and took him on a three-day remand.

Tensions were created around Abdul Aziz while he was giving a speech before the funeral. Later, he announced that he would personally give Tk 2 million as compensation to the family of the deceased. Even then, the situation did not calm down completely. At one point, Whip Dulu took the microphone and tried to calm the people present.

Meanwhile, along with the anger surrounding the announcement of paying 2 million taka as ‘blood money’, questions have been raised about the trial of the murder charges.

Providing financial assistance to the family of the deceased is one thing, and ensuring a fair investigation and trial of the murder is another. The issue of ensuring that the announcement of payment is not considered a substitute for the judicial process has also come up for discussion.

Shakil was attacked on the night of October 14 while returning home from the Chanchkoir Bazar area of ​​Gurdaspur. The attackers first shot him and then stabbed him with a sharp weapon, seriously injuring him, according to media reports.

Shakil was first taken to a local hospital and then to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. When his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Bangladesh Medical University Hospital in Dhaka. He died on the night of October 26 after 12 days of treatment there.

After Shakil’s death, anger erupted among Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal leaders and activists. They demanded Mintu’s arrest and compensation for the deceased’s family. Later, the police detained Mintu and interrogated him.

Amidst this demand, the announcement of a ‘blood money’ of Tk 2 million was made. Although the BNP MP claimed it was ‘assistance’, political circles have termed it ‘blood money’, which means an attempt to avoid punishment for the murder or to settle the case by withdrawing the case.

Shakil’s father, Rabiul Karim, filed a case with Gurdaspur Police Station on October 19. Initially, eight to 10 unidentified people were named as accused in the case. Later, after Shakil’s death, the case was transformed into a murder case.

Police presented Mintu in court on Tuesday and applied for a 10-day remand. After the hearing, the court granted a three-day remand. Police officials involved in the investigation said that efforts are underway to identify and arrest others involved in the murder.