2 bankers freed, Biplob sent to jail

Police yesterday released two private bank officials, who were detained in Rajshahi on Friday, after questioning them over the murder of Japanese national Kunio Hoshi.

Sultan Nahid and HM Shahriar, employees of BRAC Bank's Rajshahi branch, are colleagues of Jahangir Alam Bulbul, brother-in-law of Humayun Kabir Hira, one of the two arrestees remanded by police in connection with Hoshi's murder.

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Police picked them up to track down suspect Bulbul, who has gone into hiding.

Asked about the duo's release, Abdur Razzak, superintendent of police in Rangpur, said, "They were freed after interrogation."

On Friday, police detained Hira's brother-in-law Sweet Ahmed in Salgaria area of Pabna and brought him to Rangpur.

 Meanwhile, a Rangpur court on Friday evening cancelled the police remand of Rashed-un-Nabi Khan Biplob, a member of Rangpur city unit of BNP, was arrested in connection with Hoshi's murder, and sent him to jail.

SP Razzak said Biplob was produced before the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Abu Taleb Friday evening and the court cancelled his remand.

The SP said law enforcers no longer need Biplob for questioning.

On October 6, a Rangpur court placed Biplob and Hira on 10-day remand each.

While disclosing their arrest, police had claimed to have made a "major breakthrough" in the investigation.

Kunio Hoshi, 66, was gunned down in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur on October 3, five days after the killing of Italian national Cesare Tavella in Dhaka's diplomatic zone.

Meanwhile, law enforcers on Friday night detained one Limon, 30, in Khasbag area of Rangpur for questioning, police sources said.

Police have so far detained 12 people in connection with the murder of the Japanese national, police sources said. Of them, Biplob and Hira were shown arrest, while Nahid and Shahriar were released yesterday.

DIG of Rangpur Range Humayun Kabir, who is leading a five-member investigation team, yesterday held a press briefing at his office.

He said the team members yesterday held a coordination meeting.

The DIG said the investigation was going on "properly" and they were verifying and cross-checking information and findings.

He, however, declined to answer any questions from reporters.

The body of Hoshi Kunio was kept at Rangpur Medical College Hospital mortuary after his post-mortem was performed on October 4.

Mustain Billah, acting deputy commissioner of Rangpur, said they had no further information and direction about the burial of Hoshi.