Arrest Mabud, if the evidence leads to him

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

“Arrest Abdul Mabud if the evidence leads to him.”

Local residents have strongly demanded his arrest, thrusting the former Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner into intense scrutiny after four members of a Hindu family were killed at their home, amid changing police versions, questions over the crime scene and allegations surrounding Mabud’s actions and record.

Mabud was commissioner when retired teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife Pritilata, their daughter Agami and their 12-year-old son Priyam were found dead in Rangpur’s Machuapara area on Aug. 22.

Two men, Mugdho Das and Siddhartha Das, have been arrested in connection with the killings. Police have said both made confessional statements before a court.

But questions remain over how the crime was reconstructed and whether all available evidence has been examined.

At an earlier press conference on August 22, Mabud said the two accused had gone to the family’s rooftop to consume yaba.

Ganapati allegedly confronted them and was strangled, he said.

Pritilata and Agami were subsequently killed, while Priyam was killed in his bed while he was asleep,Mabud said .

The official also said the accused remained inside the house after the killings, taking showers, eating dates and cucumber, consuming drugs and searching for valuables.

Mabud later gave a different version at another press conference on August 27.

He said Ganapati, Pritilata and Agami were killed on the open rooftop.

He said the two women’s bodies were moved towards the staircase and that Priyam was killed after waking and seeing one of the accused.

Mabud said the initial account came from questioning the suspects, while the later account followed statements made before a court.

The change has prompted residents to ask what evidence supports the competing versions.

Other questions concern the crime scene.

Residents have alleged that unfamiliar motorcyclists were seen near the house from the evening before the killings until the following day.

Residents have also questioned what happened on the rooftop after the killings.

Several residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that police personnel washed the crime scene and disabled the CCTV camera after the killings

Police have denied deliberately destroying evidence and have cited water overflow and the operation of a motor.

The handling of clothing linked to Siddhartha has also drawn questions.

His father reportedly said Siddhartha was wearing a vest when police took him from his home.

Questions were later raised about a shirt reportedly associated with him and its similarity to clothing worn by a police officer.

Mabud joined the Bangladesh police cadre in 2001.

A local journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mabud had been involved in student politics with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), at Dhaka University before joining the police.

The journalist also said that Mabud had links to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh during the period when the militant group and its leader, Bangla Bhai, were active.

Mabud was accused of an inappropriate relationship with a woman.The residents surrounded the woman’s home while he was there and that police officers subsequently removed him, he said.

Then-SP Anisuzzaman and his successor, Moniruzzaman, reported the matter to police headquarters.

Later, Mabud was removed from the post, attached to police headquarters, faced restrictions affecting promotion and increments and was later sent to the Sardah Police Academy, the journalist added.

A relative of Pritilata, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a friend of Pritilata had approached Mabud for legal assistance and later alleged that he sexually harassed her and visited her home in connection with the matter.

The woman later confided in Pritilata about the alleged incident, and Pritilata subsequently brought the matter to the attention of police officers, including Sanatan Chakraborty.

The relative further alleged that Mabud and Sanatan later visited the Chakraborty residence and confronted Pritilata over the matter, warning her against pursuing it.

A mortuary worker who examined the bodies of Pritilata and her daughter Agami said he noted signs suggestive of possible sexual assault.

Mabud’s rapid career progression following the political change in August 2024 has also drawn questions.

A senior police official from one of Mabud’s previous postings said he regained influence following the political change and subsequently secured a series of senior assignments.

A Home Ministry order transferred Mabud to the Rangpur Range post and appointed DIG Mahbubur Rashid of the Special Branch as the new Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner.

The order was issued on Aug. 12, before the family was killed on Aug. 22.

Mabud remained commissioner until his replacement took charge.

Repeated attempts to contact Mabud for comment were unsuccessful.

Mahbubur Rashid also did not respond to repeated calls.

Additional Police Commissioner Naresh Chakma, Additional Police Commissioner Tofayel Ahmed and Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner Sanatan Chakraborty also did not answer repeated calls seeking comment.