Chandan Das, the main accused in the murder case of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif's murder case has given a confessional statement under Section 164 in the court. After recording the statement, he has been sent to jail.
He gave this statement to Chattogram Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate Kazi Shariful Islam on Monday (December 9) morning. After the statement, he was sent to jail in the evening.
Court bench Assistant Osman Gani said that the investigating officer of the case presented Chandan Das, the main accused in the murder case of Advocate Saiful Islam Alif, to the court and applied for recording a confessional statement under Section 164. Later, accused Chandan Das gave a confessional statement in the court. Accused Chandan Das admitted his involvement in the Alif murder case.
It is worth mentioning that on November 26, lawyer Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death in a three-way clash near the court premises in Chattogram over the demand for the release of Chinmoy Krishna Das. After that, Alif's father filed a murder case with the city's Kotwali police station, naming Chandan Das as the main accused along with 31 others.
The city police have so far arrested a total of 11 people in the case of lawyer Alif's murder. The last one, accused Chandan Das, was arrested from Bhairab Railway Station in the early hours of December 5. He was handed over to the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) that night. That evening, the police conducted a drive and arrested Ripon Das, another accused in the Alif murder case.
On the afternoon of December 6, both of them were produced before the Chattogram 6th Metropolitan Magistrate's Court (Special Magistrate). When the police applied for a 10-day remand for both of them, the court granted a 7-day remand for Chandan and a 5-day remand for Ripon.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri, who visited Dhaka on Monday(yesterday), has said that he is keen on a 'joint and concerted effort' to improve ties with the interim government of Bangladesh and strengthen ties between the two neighbors.
He said this in a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Monday (December 9).
The Indian Foreign Secretary said, 'There is no second thought other than enhancing ties. We see it as beneficial for both countries.'
During discussions on mutual interests, Vikram Mishri said, 'We want to start again from where we were.'
The nearly 40-minute meeting discussed minority issues, disinformation, ousted dictator Sheikh Hasina's stay in India, regional cooperation and the July-August uprising.
The Indian Foreign Secretary said, 'India's relations with Bangladesh are very important. We have to work with the current government.’
The Chief Adviser described the relationship between Bangladesh and India as ‘very strong’ and ‘close’. He said that in recent times, some clouds have gathered between the two neighbors and cast a shadow. Professor Yunus has sought India’s help to remove this ‘dark cloud’.
The discussion also touched on the issue of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Describing the brutal and corrupt dictatorship of the past 15 years, the Chief Adviser told the Indian Foreign Secretary, ‘Our people are worried because she is giving a lot of speeches from there (India). It is creating tension.’
Vikram Mishri said that he had been monitoring the events in Bangladesh almost every hour during the July-August mass uprising.
The Chief Adviser gave a detailed account of how students, workers and the public came together to end Hasina’s corrupt regime through the July-August mass uprising.
He said, ‘Our job is to keep the dreams of the youth alive. This is a new Bangladesh.’ He briefly outlined the reform initiatives taken by the interim government.
Vikram Mishri said that among the foreign leaders who welcomed Professor Yunus after he took over as the Chief Adviser, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was at the forefront.
Stating that the media narrative and the Indian government’s perception of India-Bangladesh relations are different, he said, ‘We wish you success.’
Stating that ‘It is a misconception that India has relations with a particular political party in Bangladesh,’ Vikram Mishri said, ‘India’s relations with Bangladesh are not for any particular party, but for all.’
At the meeting, Professor Yunus called on India to respond to his initiatives for closer bilateral cooperation in flood and water management and for reviving SAARC.
The Chief Adviser said, ‘We want to build a prosperous new future for all of us.’
Vikram Mishri said that India has continued to work with SAARC, although there are some obstacles.
The Chief Adviser on minority issues said the interim government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of every citizen and protecting the rights of all, regardless of religion, caste, ethnicity and gender.
He said, “We are one family. We have to work together.”
The Indian foreign secretary said, “India has doubled the number of visas for Bangladeshis last month and will increase this number further in the coming days. We want to take our relationship forward.”
India will take initiative to extend visas for Bangladeshi citizens, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Forests and Climate Change.
She said this at a press conference held in front of the State Guest House Jamuna on Monday (December 9) evening.
In response to a question about India's visa, Adviser Rizwana said, "India has promised that they will take initiative to extend visas."
She said, "We have already protested about the violent behavior at the Deputy High Commission and they have expressed regret. Today, since they are talking about taking forward and strengthening relations with the interim government, we assume that they are still in a position to express regret in these matters. This has not been said again."
Rizwana Hasan said, "Dhaka has expressed concern about the propaganda being spread about Bangladesh." Regarding the propaganda, India's Foreign Secretary said, "The Indian government is not responsible for the propaganda being spread about Bangladesh. It is the work of various organizations."
In response to a question regarding Sheikh Hasina's provocative speech in India, she said, the ousted Prime Minister has taken refuge in India. She is trying to create a kind of tension by making various statements from there. Our concerns have been clearly conveyed to India in this regard. Syeda Rizwana Hasan also said, the image of Bangladesh is being questioned. The July-August coup is being questioned. India's statement on these is that their government is not responsible in any way. The government is not doing these, and they are not even "owning" these. These are being done by various media and organizations.
Recently, some clouds have gathered in the relationship between the two neighbors. Chief Adviser Professor Yunus has sought India's help to remove this 'black cloud'.
On Monday (December 9), Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri met Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna.
During the meeting, the Chief Adviser described the relations between Bangladesh and India as 'very strong' and 'close'.
The discussion also brought up the topic of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India.
Describing the brutal and corrupt dictatorship of the past 15 years, the Chief Adviser told the Indian Foreign Secretary, 'Our people are worried because she is giving many speeches from there (India). This is creating tension.’
The Chief Adviser detailed how students, workers and the public came together in a mass uprising in July-August to end Hasina’s corrupt regime.
He said, ‘Our job is to keep the dreams of the youth alive. This is a new Bangladesh.’ He outlined the reform initiatives taken by the interim government.
During the meeting, Professor Yunus called on India to respond to his initiative for closer bilateral cooperation in flood and water management and to revive SAARC.
The Chief Adviser said, ‘We want to build a prosperous new future for all of us.’
On minority issues, the Chief Adviser said, the interim government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of every citizen and protecting the rights of all, regardless of religion, caste, ethnicity and gender.
He said, ‘We are one family. We have to work together.’