Mohammad Masudur Rahman, investigation officer (IO) of Palang Model Police Station in Shariatpur Sadar, who is accused in the case of burning the bodies of six people killed during the July uprising in Ashulia, Dhaka, has reportedly gone into hiding from his workplace.

He has been absent from duty for six consecutive days without taking any leave, according to Palang Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Helal Uddin.

According to the district police, he left citing his mother's illness but did not resume duty afterward. His current whereabouts remain unknown. Meanwhile, the date for submitting the investigation report of the case to the International Crimes Tribunal was April 29.

However, one of his fellow police officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Masudur Rahman has not been seen at the station since April 24.

"It is believed he might have gone into hiding out of fear of arrest following proceedings at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka," he said.

Md Tanvir Hossain, additional superintendent of police (Gosairhat Circle) in Shariatpur, confirmed the absence of the investigation officer from his workplace.

He said, "We do not know where Masudur Rahman is. According to district police records, he is absent from his duty station. We also cannot confirm whether he is an accused in any case. We have not received any documents in this regard from the police headquarters or any court. We are investigating the matter of his absence. Efforts to locate him are already underway."

When asked about the matter, Palang Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Helal Uddin said, "Inspector Masudur Rahman has been absent from the station since April 24. The matter has been reported to higher police authorities. They will take necessary action if needed. According to some police members, he received an urgent call that his mother was sick and he needed to go to Dhaka. Saying this, he left the station. Later that evening, when I arrived, I did not find him. We do not know where he is now."

According to the case statement and police sources, on August 5 during the July uprising, six people were shot dead in Ashulia, near Dhaka. The deceased were Sajjad Hossain Sajal, Abdul Mannan, Mizanur Rahman, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, As-Sabur, and Bayezid. It is alleged that their bodies were burned in a police van in front of Ashulia Police Station. Shahina Begum, mother of martyr Sajjad Hossain Sajal, filed a case at the International Crimes Tribunal accusing 40 individuals of crimes against humanity.

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was among the 40 accused in the case. Masudur Rahman was named the 27th accused. At that time, he was serving as the investigation officer at Ashulia Police Station. Later, he was transferred to Shariatpur district police. He joined the district police on September 15 last year and was appointed as the investigation officer at Palang Model Police Station on December 12 by the Shariatpur Superintendent of Police.

Since April 24, Masudur Rahman has not reported to Palang Model Police Station. When visited on Tuesday, his office was found locked.

Notably, on April 29, the case was listed as item number two on the cause list of the International Crimes Tribunal. The date was scheduled for the submission of the investigation report, but the submission has since been deferred.

Both his official and personal phone numbers have been found switched off. His comments could not be obtained.