ছবি: Ehtheshamul Haque Bhola and Babul Akter
In a shocking revelation, Ehtheshamul Haque Bhola, one of the accused in the high-profile Mahmuda Khanam Mitu murder case, has alleged that he was coerced into implicating former police officer Babul Akter in the killing. Speaking to the media outside Chattogram Central Jail on Sunday evening, Bhola claimed that he was threatened with “crossfire” by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to provide a false confession.
“They forced me to state that Babul Akter murdered his wife,” Bhola stated. “I am innocent. PBI extracted my confession through fear and manipulation.”
Bhola’s accusations cast new doubts on the integrity of the investigation into the 2016 murder case that has garnered national attention. The PBI’s charge sheet alleges that Bhola supplied weapons used in Mitu’s murder, but he insists he was framed to serve a larger conspiracy.
Allegations of a Vendetta
Bhola further alleged that the former head of the PBI, Banaj Kumar Majumder, orchestrated a plot to frame Babul Akter in the case due to an administrative feud between the two officers. According to Bhola, their conflict began in January 2016 during a gold smuggling raid at a warehouse in Chattogram’s Riazuddin Bazaar.
Bhola explained, “Babul refused to halt the operation, which led to a clash of egos with Banaj Kumar. This vendetta is why Babul was implicated in his wife’s murder.”
He also accused law enforcement officials of extorting significant sums of money from him during the investigation. “I had to pay a bribe of 20 lakh BDT to then-DB Assistant Commissioner Kamaruzzaman, and in total, over one crore BDT to various police officers,” Bhola claimed.
A Cry for Justice
Demanding a retrial of the case, Bhola expressed hope for fair proceedings. “We want the court to reexamine the witnesses. I believe justice will prevail, Inshallah,” he said.
Bhola’s statements come as the case continues to unfold in the Chattogram Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court. Out of 97 witnesses listed in the case, 52 have testified so far.
Babul Akter’s Legal Limbo
Despite securing bail from the High Court, Babul Akter, the former police officer who transitioned from plaintiff to accused in the case, remains in custody. On Sunday afternoon, reporters gathered outside Chattogram Central Jail in anticipation of Babul’s release, but by 5:30 PM, it was announced that his release would not occur that day.
Babul Akter has been in custody since May 2021, when PBI filed a supplementary charge sheet naming him as the prime accused in the murder. His arrest followed allegations from Mitu’s father, retired police inspector Mosharraf Hossain, who accused Babul of orchestrating the killing due to an extramarital affair.
The murder dates back to June 5, 2016, when Mitu was brutally killed near Chattogram’s GEC area while taking her son to his school bus. The following day, Babul filed a murder case with Panchlaish Police Station. However, the investigation took a dramatic turn in 2021, with PBI presenting evidence that Babul himself was involved in the crime.
The Road Ahead
The Mitu murder case remains one of Bangladesh’s most controversial legal battles, riddled with allegations of corruption, vendetta, and procedural irregularities. Bhola’s recent statements have added further complexity to the already convoluted narrative.
As the trial progresses, questions about the credibility of the investigation and the motivations behind the allegations against Babul Akter are likely to persist. For now, the search for justice continues, with the nation watching closely.
repoter
