Top listed criminal Bikash was hurriedly and secretly freed from Kashimpur Jail-2 early Friday allegedly to suppress political rivals ahead of upcoming parliamentary election, claimed sources.
The sources on condition of anonymity also said a relative of a minister played the key role in having Bikash freed and in the process no law enforcement or intelligence agencies were notified.
The said relative with a few others were waiting at the jail gate with a car. They left with Bikash as soon as he was out.
Everything was hushed up as the minister is very influential and the minister was instrumental in Bikash getting released. The convicted criminal is considered to be useful by him for regaining control in city areas where the ruling party appears vulnerable, said some unverified sources.
Bikash had been in jail since 1997 in connection with several murder cases mostly committed in the capital's Agargaon and Mirpur areas where he is from.
While the home ministry claims that Bikash was released on a court order and that there was no strict rule about jail authorities informing law enforcement and intelligence agencies about an inmate's release, his release remains mysterious.
Someone around 7:30am on Friday, the weekend when the court should be closed, delivered the court order to the jail authorities and Bikash was out in 45 minutes.
Supreme Court lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder told The Daily Star that it was not possible for the jail authorities to verify the records of over 15 cases against Bikash within the 45 minutes.
"It will take at least five hours to verify the documents," he added.
He also said in the case of a top criminal, like Bikash, the jail authorities usually take extra precaution and inform different intelligence agencies and local police.
Local police deny that they were informed about Bikash being released but a number of high-ranking police officials were at the jail gate as Bikash walked out.
A source in Gazipur's Kashimpur Jail-2 said the jailer, the jail super, and additional superintendents of police of Gazipur and Dhaka were there at the gate when Bikash was released.
Superintendent of Police Abdul Baten of Gazipur yesterday said, "We did not have prior information regarding his release. Our intelligence deployed at the jail gate could not recognise Bikash as they did not know him."
The home ministry sees nothing unusual in the matter.
Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed yesterday said, "There is no hard and fast rule for the jail authority to inform police of the release of inmates.
"Jail authority acted as per law. I enquired and they informed me that Bikash was released upon court order."
An additional secretary to the ministry preferring anonymity said if necessary the criminal could be arrested again if there was a specific allegation and warrant against him.
Bikash was released in 2009 but he was arrested at the jail gate and later shown arrested in a murder case filed with Tejgaon Police Station.
This time around, the law enforces did not take any step to arrest Bikash at the gate even though intelligence agencies had information that over 100 gang members of Bikash were active in city's Sheorapara, Kazipara and Kalyanpur areas.
Intelligence agency sources said Bikash used to control his gang from jail and his men collect toll from traders on monthly basis.
Among other cases, Bikash was accused in a double murder in Agargaon and a murder in LGED Bhaban.
Bikash, now 46, has a brother called Prokash Kumar Biswas, who is also a top criminal accused of several murders in the capital. Prokash is on the run. He allegedly fled the country before the then government published a list of 23 top criminals on December 26, 2001.