Emon spills more beans about Babar

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Detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar allegedly hired Sanjidul Islam Emon to have his reported business partner Madan Municipality Chairman Shafiqul Islam Liton killed since he joined hands with Babar’s rival former Awami League MP Haji Selim.

As Liton betrayed, Babar opposed his candidature in the municipality chairman election in 2002, sources said, quoting Emon’s confession made before Criminal Investigation Department (CID) interrogators during his remand period.

Sources claimed Babar, abusing power, paved the way for Liton to fish in Netrakona haor areas depriving others. But, Liton joined hands with Selim to trade fish at the Karwan Bazar wholesale market in Dhaka.

Liton, former chairman of Khaliajuri upazila and former assistant personal secretary to Babar and Babar’s cousin, controlled fishing in the haor area during the BNP rule with Babar’s assistance, according to sources. The fish were sold at Karwan Bazar wholesale market in Dhaka and Babar was given a large share of the profit, sources claimed.

After Liton joined Selim and started trading together, Babar became angry and opposed Liton’s candidature in the municipality election held on October 26, 2002 and hired Emon to have Liton killed.

Sources said fish worth crores of taka were collected from Mohanganj, Madan, Khaliajuri and other haor areas in Netrakona each season. Since Babar was influential, none dared to fish in the wetlands.

Liton told The Daily Star yesterday over telephone that he had leased land from Haji Selim for fish-trading purposes.

“Even though there was a feud over the municipality election, I had no conflict with Babar over fishing and fish trading,” he said.

A source close to Selim said, “Liton has been using Selim’s space since they have a good relationship and following an understanding between them.”

According to sources, Selim has a huge area of land in Karwan Bazar wholesale fish market.

They said following the feud with Babar, Liton made good relations with criminals like “Langra” Masud and Shahabuddin of Karwan Bazar. Masud was allegedly gunned down as a result of the feud between Babar and Liton.

Talking to The Daily Star Monday, Liton said, “I had good relationship with Babar but it deteriorated before the municipality election in 2002 as Babar backed candidate Dewan Mosaddek Shafi.

“In March 2006, goons hired by Babar attacked me during a conference of Madan upazila BNP, but I managed to flee the scene and save my life.”

Emon, recently deported by the Indian authorities, allegedly admitted to the CID investigators that he did not carry out the murder since the two were relatives.

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