‘No army-police rift over Sinha killing’

Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed said that the killing of retired Army Major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan is an isolated incident.

They also said the incident will not create a rift in the existing trusted relations between the army and police forces.

The top brass of the forces made the remarks while addressing a joint press conference at the Army’s Jaltaranga Rest House in Cox's Bazar yesterday (Wednesday).

General Aziz said, “Army and police have always been working together. What happened is, of course, shocking to both the army and the police. I want to give a message through you that we want to see it as an isolated incident.”

General Aziz said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured slain Major Rashed’s mother of fair investigation into the incident. A joint inquiry team has been formed on the prime minister’s instructions.

“The army and the police have confidence in her words. Both the forces have trust in the probe body,” he added.

IGP Benazir said, “Police and army have been working together in all crises, throughout the pandemic and in the flood situation now. I request (all) to look at the death as an isolated incident.”

“Some people are trying to make it a police-army argument. Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Army are skilled forces. They will not give in to such provocations” he added.

IGP said the probe body would investigate the incident with transparency and action will be taken based on the findings of investigation.

Meanwhile, a murder case was filed with the Cox's Bazar Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-3 against nine persons on Wednesday, including Teknaf Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Pradip Kumar Das and Teknaf's Baharchhara Police Outpost in-charge Liakat Ali, in connection with the killing of Major Sinha.

Lawyer Mohammad Mostafa filed the case on behalf of Sharmen.

Taking the case into cognizance, Cox’s Bazar’s Acting Chief Judicial Magistrate Tamanna Farah directed the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to submit a report within the seven working days.

Besides, the court directed the Teknaf Police Station to inform the court within seven working days whether the case was registered as an ezahar.

The other accused in the case are sub-inspectors Nanda Dulal Rakshit and Tutul, constables Safanur Karim, Kamal Hossain, Mohammad Mostafa and Abdullah Al Mamun and assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia.

After the filing of the case, Sharmen and her lawyer talked to newsmen outside the court. The complainant expressed her satisfaction over the directives of the court.

Meanwhile, Teknaf Police Station OC Pradip Kumar Das has been withdrawn over the killing of Major Sinha in Teknaf police firing, police headquarters sources said.

Major Sinha, 36, was killed in police firing at a marine drive check post in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazaar on the night of 31 July.

A high-powered committee on Tuesday started inquiring into the death of former Special Security Force member and Bangladesh Army retired major Sinha.