DHAKA: Ruling-party lawmaker Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon, quizzed over the murder of his party colleague Ibrahim Ahmed, said he had left his licensed pistol in his car “by mistake”.

Shaon, however, denied his involvement in Ibrahim killing during the interrogation on Wednesday night, sources said.

According to him, he left his licensed pistol in his car by mistake and Ibrahim died from this pistol shot. “I couldn’t understand that it was a murder,” the sources quoted him as saying.

The Detective Branch sources said as per Shaon’s statement, he took advice from several top local leaders of the party in this connection. Rasel Smriti Shangha president Shahidullah and Jubo League leader Mohi were among them.

The MP, elected from Bhola-3 constituency in the country’s southern coast, reached the DB office at around 9 pm Wednesday. Later, he was taken to the Deputy Commissioner (north) of DB police Mahbubur Rahman’s room. DMP joint Commissioner (DB) Meer Shahidul Islam and DB high officials concerned with the investigation were present at the time.

Shaon left the DB office at 11 pm, after two-hour-long interrogation, the DB sources said.

A high official of the DB said Shaon was seen nervous during the interrogation. But he answered all the questions “tactfully”.

A notice was issued on Shaon’s interrogation two days before, he added.

A local Awami League leader and probable city corporation councilor candidate from DCC Ward No 56, Ibrahim died from a pistol fire in Sangsad Bhaban area between 6pm and 8:30pm on August 13. It was reportedly the MP’s licensed pistol.  

Later, the MP’s followers took the bullet-hit body of Ibrahim to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue and fled.

Shaon’s car driver, Kalam Hossain Kala, and personal assistant Sohel were arrested over the murder of Ibrahim Ahmed.

Later, Kala gave confessional statement on the killing of Ibrahim before the court. Now both are in jail custody.

BDST: 1504 HRS, SEPT 16, 2010