April 19, 2023. Khairul Alam Gem, former councilor and Jubo League leader of Ward No. 9 of Shibganj Municipality of Chapainawabganj, was returning home after buying iftari for his sister at around 6 pm. On the way he was beaten to death with a hammer. This murder that happened in public moved everyone’s heart.
According to the evidence received and the confession of the accused, the person who ordered the murder was a public representative of Chapainawabganj. According to his plan, Masbaul Haque Tutul, the leader of the Municipal Farmers League (now expelled) carried out the killing mission with his team. In this regard, the defendants have a statement under section 164
The police have not submitted the charge sheet to the court so far. The investigation officer has changed several times. As most of the accused, including the main accused, are out on bail, the victim’s family is suffering from insecurity. They are also expressing apprehension about the trial as local influential circles are involved in the murder.
After being arrested in the Jem murder case, several people have confessed their guilt in the court. Five such statements under section 164 have come to Kalbela’s hands. In all of them the defendants admitted their responsibility as well as revealed the name of the main informer. The then vice-president of Municipal Krishak League who led the killing mission and accused No. 3 in the Jem murder case, Masbaul Haq Tutul, admitted the responsibility of the murder and said, ‘On 5/11/2022, my fight with Jem started with the meeting of the District Krishak League. In the conference of the District Farmers League, Jem stood for the MP and I stood for another public representative. After the conference we had several meetings with the representative and it was decided to cripple Jem. We targeted a few days; But missed. Last 19/4/2023 let Ibrahim go after Jem. Ibrahim occasionally informs me of Jem’s whereabouts. Jem Shahjahan was walking from the hotel around 5:50 to 6:00 p.m. Me, Rana, Shamim and Ibrahim surrounded Jam. Then I hit Jem in the back of the head with the first hammer of all. Rana also hits Jem with a hammer. Ibrahim stabs Jem in different parts of his body. Shamim took the hammer from my hand and hit Jem on the leg. Jem fell to the ground and we hurried out through a side alley. We first go to Kazipara, from there I call the mastermind of the incident and tell him about the killing of Jem. He forbade us to worry and ordered us to go somewhere slowly for the time being.’
Accused No. 4 in the Jem murder case. Ibrahim said in the statement, ‘On November 5, 2022, our target was on Jem from the conference of District Farmers League. We discuss the matter with a public representative. We all meet and decide we’re going to kill Jem. Then last 19/04/2023 I followed Jem and followed him all day. At approximately 6:00 p.m., Jem Dien stopped at the intersection. I told this to Tutul Bhai. Tutul Bhai, Rana, Shamim and I hit Jem on the back of the head with a hammer. Then Rana Chacha hit with a hammer. Shamim takes the hammer from Tutul Bhai and hits Jem on the leg. I hit Jem five or six times with the knife.’
Accused No. 6 in the case. Shamim Reza said in his statement, ‘On Tutul Bhai’s instructions, I took a hammer from my shop and came to Udayan intersection around 11 am and was inquiring when Gem would come. Sometimes Tutul Bhai, Rana and Ibrahim were communicating with me on mobile phones. Shortly before Iftar, around 5:50 in the afternoon, Tutul Bhai called me and told me that I have found Jem, hurry and come to Udayan intersection. When I reached the Udayan intersection, Tutul Bhai took the hammer from my hand and hit Jem on the back of the head. Jem falls to the ground. Then Rana struck with the hammer. I took the hammer from Tutul Bhai and hit Jem on the leg. And Ibrahim hit each other three-four times with a knife.’
In addition to this, accused No. 5 Md. Masud Rana and accused No. 9 in the statement. Milan Hossain also admitted his guilt in the statement and revealed the names of those involved in the murder.
If asked to know, the plaintiff in the Gem murder case and Gem’s elder brother Md. Monirul Islam told Kalbela, ‘Most of the accused are out on bail and are threatening us. The police are not issuing the charge sheet in the case. We are worried about getting a fair trial. Also, we are suffering from insecurity as most of the accused are outside.’
When asked, Chapainawabganj-3 (Sadar) Constituency Member of Parliament and District Awami League General Secretary Abdul Odud told Kalbela, ‘Jem was killed publicly. But the police is still not giving the charge sheet of the case. I want speedy trial of the case. If we do not get justice for the murder of our sons, then what is the point of doing this politics.’
When asked to know, Inspector (Investigation) of Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station, former investigation officer of the case, Maksudur Rahman told Kalbela, ‘I am the third investigation officer of the case. Earlier, two other officials investigated. I worked on the case for about four-five months. The CID has been given the responsibility of investigating the case before Eid. Now they are investigating. Asked about the progress of the investigation, he said, it is a murder case. Nothing can be said about the proceedings of this case.
Later, when the current investigation officer of the case Chapainawabganj CID Inspector Abdul Hannan was contacted, he told Kalbela, ‘It has been six-seven days since we got the case. We have just started the investigation process.’
Chapainawabganj Superintendent of Police Chaidul Hasan told Kalbela, ‘The case is now with the CID. They are investigating. You talk to them.’
