Law enforcers yesterday arrested one of the prime accused in the Rajshahi University Prof Yunus murder case from Perihat of Gabtoli upazila. The arrestee, Shahidullah, is the husband of executed Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) kingpin Bangla Bhai's niece and an activist of banned Islamist outfit JMB. He is the son of Abdus Sattar from Sarukdanga of Shapahar upazila in Naogaon.According to sources, a joint team of Detective Branch (DB) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) made the arrest. Shahidullah confessed to be one of the planners of Prof Yunus murder, but he claimed that he was not present at the scene during the murder, added the sources.
Shahidullah's statement however contradicts the statement of Tareq, another accused held in connection with the murder case. Tareq previously told police that Shahidullah was present while the professor was being murdered. Tareq also said that the professor was killed by order of JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman. During interrogation, Shahidullah said that after the JMB high command directed the activists to kill Prof Yunus for his affiliation with outlawed communists, he along with Tareq, Ibrahim, Mostafa, Abul Kashem, Arif and Abdur Rashid held a meeting at Tareq's house at Baniapara in Rajshahi town. He had been assigned with high profile assignments after marrying the niece of Bangla Bhai. He accompanied Bangla Bhai in operations against outlaws in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Natore and Naogaon, Shahidullah admitted to police.