Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman, feared by locals as the crime lord of Narayanganj, yesterday claimed three of the accused in the case filed for the abduction and murder of panel mayor Nazrul Islam did commit the crimes.

Addressing a rally at Sanarpar in Narayanganj by Dhaka-Chittagong highway, he categorically named Nur Hossain, Iqbal Hossain and Hasmat Ali Hashu, and said he is cent percent sure about their complicity.

Before the 20ll Narayanganj city corporation election, Nazrul was taken to the Rab-lO office as Iqbal made a Tk I crore deal to kill him, said the controversial politician.

Claming that he got Nazrul freed the very day, Shamim added, "The man who could make a contract to kill Nazrul, I have no doubt, had involvement in the killing." He went on, "Hashu is Boba Dakail [silent dacoit). I know him. He is the No 1 criminal. Money flows from him. His account should be checked to know where the money goes.

"I believe those accused in the case were involved in the killing ... They should be arrested immediately."

The Daily Star could not verify the claims.

Sources say Nur, Iqbal and Hashu were close to Shamim. They unleashed terror in Narayanganj and amassed money under his patronisation.

It was reflected in his speech as well. "It's true I believed Nur Hossain was my man," he said. "But I was proven wrong when I got a CD."

The ruling party leader claimed the CD contained a conversation during a meeting of Nur Hossain, former Chhatra league leader Sufian and one of his aides named Selim.

He said the trio at die meeting verbally abused his brothers. "These are the people who planned to kill Nazrul."

Little could be known about Selim.

According to Shamim, Sufian is a contractor and No 2 criminal of Naryanganj.

He, however, did not give any copy of the disk to journalists. A reporter of The Daily Star got a copy from a source but nothing in it was audible.

Responding to a query about Shamim Osman's claim of having a CD of the murder plan, State Minister for I lome Asaduzzaman Khan said the ministry was yet to collect it.

"We talked with Shamim in this regard and will collect the CD. After getting the CD, we will examine," he told BBC Bangla Service.

Accused of criminal activities during the previous AL rule, Shamim fled to India just after the 2001 election victory of BNP-led alliance. He returned in December 2006 but left again the day before the 1/11 changeover the next year. He was abroad until April 2009.

Lately, names of his family members came up as suspects in the murder of Twaki, son of Narayanganj Gonojagoron Mancha Convener Rafiur Rabbi.

At yesterday's rally, presided over by Nazrul's father-in-law Shahidul Islam, Shamim bragged, "I don't need administration. Shamim Osman doesn't need police protection. My people are my protection. With my people I will prevent terrorists."

On April 28, a day after Nazrul and six others were abducted in broad daylight, Nazrul's wife Selina Islam filed an abduction case accusing Nur, Iqbal, Hashu, Siddhirganj AL leader Haji Yasin, Aminul Islam Raju and Anwar Hossain.

Three days after the abduction, the bodies of the seven were found floating in the Shitalakkhya.

After her husband's body was recovered, Selina cried out: "Oh Allah ... what Shamim Osman has done ... the day before his [Nazrul| abduction, he met Shamim Osman and pleaded to bhai [Shamim| to protect him, saying he would go to the court the next day."

Police are yet to arrest any of the accused.