Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju to prove that neither he nor his brother was involved in the murder of Narsingdi mayor Lokman Hossain.
Lokman, also a local Awami League leader, was shot dead on November 1 when Raju was on visit to Geneva. His family and aides suspect the minister and his younger brother Salauddin Ahmed of having masterminded the murder.
Salauddin has been implicated as the prime accused in the killing while another 13 accused in the case include an assistant personal secretary to the telecoms boss. None of the accused have been arrested as yet.
On Saturday, a day after Raju returned home, the prime minister summoned him to her official residence Gono Bhaban and held a 15-minute meeting, which was also attended by three AL lawmakers from Narsingdi -- Md Nazrul Islam, Anwarul Ashraf Khan and Zahirul Haque.
Sheikh Hasina at the discussion said since Salauddin was an accused in the case and the minister was widely suspected of being involved in the murder, Raju now had to prove that neither he nor his brother had any link with the November 1 shooting, sources at the meeting said.
The premier also vowed that the killers of the mayor would be punished irrespective of whether they were in or outside the party. She asked all to act in a manner that would not influence the murder investigation at all.
In response, Raju told the PM that he would follow all her directives and accept whatever results the probe into the murder came up with.
Earlier on November 3, the three Narsingdi lawmakers discussed with the premier the situation in the district after the death of Lokman, a two-time gold medallist as the best mayor in the country.
Talking to this correspondent last evening, one of the MPs said Sheikh Hasina had assured them of finding out the real culprits.
“She [Hasina] was very serious and sincere about this. She noted that her party image had been damaged due to the killing,” said the lawmaker.
“She herself chose Subrata Kumar Halder as acting police superintendent of Narsingdi and investigator in the case,” another MP said.
Neither of the MPs preferred to be named.
Raju, who is also a lawmaker from Narsingdi, could not be reached for comment.