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SYLHET BOMB BLASTS

6 political leaders under secret watch

Kotwali OC transferred; more changes in local police department on the cards

JULFIKAR ALI MANIK, from Sylhet
Police are keeping secret surveillance on three leaders of the ruling coalition and three of the main opposition in connection to the bomb blasts in two movie houses and the grenade attack near an Awami League (AL) meeting venue within a space of 47 hours in Sylhet last week.
The authorities yesterday transferred Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shafiqur Rahman Mukul, as he failed to check the slide in law and order, and hinted at more transfers in
the local police department.
The decision to watch movements of the six political leaders was taken at a meeting Friday to find clues to the blasts that remain a total mystery to the law enforcers, even after nine days of the first incident, a source involved in the investigations told The Daily Star yesterday.
Refusing to name the six under watch, the source said one is a districtlevel leader and another a former leader of the BNP. A city-level leader of BNP's key ally Jamaat-e- FROM PAGE 1
Islami is also in the surveillance list.
The rest are a district-level and a city-level leader of main opposition AL and one belonging to its youth wing, Jubo League.
Law enforcers did not ask the six anything, the source said, adding none of them is even aware of the watch.
The Friday's meeting issued sharp directive to maintain absolute secrecy in the vigilance so that the political leaders can never sense it.
But, while the investigators are hunting for clues, they are yet to act on the allegation brought by local AL leader Nunu Miah, arrested in connection to the August-7 grenade attack, of local BNP legislator Ilias Ali's involvement in the blasts.
According to the source, Ali's name is not on the watch list and the investigators are not at all willing to verify the allegation.
TRANSFERS
The authorities suspended Sylhet Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahadat Hossain three days after the May 21 grenade blast at Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine that killed three and injured 75 others including Bangladesh-born British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury. The then Kotwali Police Station OC S A Newaji was also transferred a few days later, replaced by OC of South Surma Police Station Shafiqur Rahman Mukul.
But Mukul was sent back yesterday to South Surma Police Station and OC of Borolekha Police Station of Moulavibazar Mahbubur Rahman took over as the new OC of Kotwali.
Confirming the transfer, Sylhet SP Mostafa Kamal told The Daily Star yesterday, "It's not for any failure, we've transferred Mukul in order to improve the law and order."
"The authorities earlier made Mukul the Kotwali OC only for the time being and now have decided to send him back to his post at South Surma Police Station," he explained.
"We may bring change to some more important posts, if necessary, to improve the law and order. Some more efficient officers may be brought here," SP Kamal said, adding the transfer might take place immediately, if necessary, or a few months later.