Detectives yesterday (03-04-10)summoned Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam to appear before investigators on April 11 in connection with the Dhaka City Corporation ward councillor Ahmed Hossain killing case.
Shah Alam was asked to appear at the Minto Road office of the Detective Branch after Nazimuddin, chairman of Keraniganj Shuvaddah Union Parishad, mentioned the Bashundhara Group chairman's name to investigators.
Nazimuddin, who was arrested and placed on remand Monday, told investigators that he hired Dakat Shahid for Tk 50 lakh to have Ahmed Hossain eliminated for obstructing Shah Alam from buying an LPG cylinder factory in Hasnabad in Keraniganj.
Ahmed Hossain and Nazimuddin were both major shareholders of the factory, Pak-Bangla Household Manufacturing Ltd.
Ahmed was gunned down on February 9 at Alubazar in Old Dhaka as he was about to leave a mosque after saying prayers.
DB Assistant Commissioner Sanwar Hossain said Nazimuddin was a close aide of Shah Alam and was given a well-furnished office on the 12th floor of Bashundhara City in the capital. He was also provided with a Nissan Patrol private car, which is now being used by his third wife.
Meanwhile, the victim's family members said anonymous people are threatening them over cell phone after DB arrested Nazimuddin.
Nazimuddin, who was put on a fresh four-day remand on Friday on completion of a three-day remand, was treated as a director of Basundhara Group, the AC said.
He, however, said Nazimuddin could not produce any document in favour of his statement.
DB sources said Shah Alam and Nazimuddin signed a memorandum of understanding that the latter would be paid commission after purchase of the desired land for Shah Alam.
Nazimuddin grabbed some khas land in Keraniganj and coerced most landowners into selling their land for the Riverview Project of Bashundhara. He also bought over 662 bighas of land in Cox's Bazar and around 7,000 bighas in Keraniganj for Bashundhara, said the AC quoting Nazimuddin.
When contacted, Mohammad Hossain, brother of Ahmed Hossain, refused to talk to reporters, saying they are panicked as a good number of anonymous callers are constantly issuing threats.
Police have arrested seven persons including Nazimuddin so far in connection with the case.
