MP Liton's family asks for security

Family members of slain lawmaker of Gaibandha-1 Manzurul Islam Liton have sought security from police.

Khurshid Jahan Smrity, wife of Liton, and their only son Sakib Sadman Rakib are now in the capital. Rakib is studying at an English medium school in Dhaka.  

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As the killers of the lawmaker were still at large, Liton's family members were feeling insecure and for this reason, they applied for police protection, said a member of the family yesterday. 

"Yes, they have applied for protection to the Dhaka Metropolitan police commissioner. I have also got a copy of the application," said Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station.

Our Gaibandha correspondent adds: five days have already passed after the killing of Liton, police are yet to arrest any killers though high level teams of law enforcement agencies have been working in the field.

Preferring anonymity, a top police official said investigation was going on.

Police recovered a black cap apparently used by one of the killers that fell while the killers were fleeing after shooting the lawmaker. Police sent the cap to Dhaka for DNA cross-matching, which could help identify the killers, the police official said.

Police showed 21 people arrested in connection with Liton murder case and sent them to jail. In police record, all are the leaders and activists of Jamaat-Shibir, many of them stand accused in some other cases.

Police interrogated some family members of Liton, including his wife Smrity, brother-in-law Badrul Ahsan Betar, sister Fahmida Bulbul Kakoli and son Rakib, and driver Forkan Akand.

However, police did not disclose anything for the sake of investigation.

Police also suspect Sundarganj upazila Jamaat ameer Mowlana Younus Ali's involvement in the murder. He went into hiding soon after the killing. Younus was the prime accused in four cops killing and others violence cases. He is now on bail.   

"Lawmaker Liton planned to go to Dhaka on December 31. Accordingly, I went to Saidpur airport to buy tickets, but could not manage those and bought tickets for the next day [January 1]," said Ayub Ali, manager of Liton's cold storage.

Jamaat-Shibir men had attempted to kill the lawmaker at his Masterpara house three times but failed, alleged Shams Uddin, president of Bamondanga union unit AL.

They were involved in killing the lawmaker, he also alleged.

Meanwhile, Jubo League yesterday brought out a procession in Gaibandha district town, protesting the killing of Liton, demanding immediate arrest and exemplary punishment to the killers.