Opratim murder trial to be completed soon: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday expressed hope that the trial in the murder of seventh-grader Ishayat Shahriar Opratim would be completed within a short time, as in the Ramisa murder case.

"The court will conduct the trial. We will extend all-out cooperation by completing the necessary legal procedures and submitting the charge sheet," he said.

He made the remarks at a press briefing on the contemporary issues at the home ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The minister said people across the country were deeply shocked by the murder in Cumilla, adding that police recovered Opratim's body within 24 hours and arrested four suspects within 12 hours.

He said the suspects had confessed to their involvement in the killing.

Salahuddin said some of the suspects appeared to be members of a juvenile crime group and had been acquainted with Opratim.

"They were friends and used to spend time together. Preliminary information suggests they were five to 10 years older than Opratim," he said, adding that the ages of the suspects were being verified through their national identity records.

The minister said the mobile phone involved in the incident had been recovered from the prime suspect, identified as Tuhin.

"All the evidence has been recovered and they have confessed. Police are now taking further legal steps, including whether their statements can be recorded under Section 164," he said.

Praising the police, the minister said they had succeeded in arresting all the suspects within 12 hours and recovering key evidence in the case.

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Opratim, 13, went out of his home around 3pm on Friday with his mother's iPhone to take photographs with friends but did not return.

Police later recovered his body from a forested area of the Lalmai hills near Cumilla University.

The home minister said the government has taken swift legal action after uncovering heinous crimes, including arresting those responsible and initiating necessary legal proceedings.

"We have been able to uncover heinous crimes within the shortest possible time and take necessary legal measures since the present government assumed office," he said.

He said cases that require more time would be assessed based on the progress of investigations.

Regarding statistics on missing children published by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), the minister said the government was taking the issue seriously and examining the available data.

Identifying social degradation as a major factor behind crime, he said cybercrimes were often linked to drugs, gambling and pornography.

To address the problem and restore social discipline, the government is placing greater emphasis on cultural activities, sports and moral education at the primary and secondary school levels so that young people can develop with clear goals, he said.

He also called on conscious citizens from all sections of society to perform their responsibilities from their respective positions.

Criticising recent incidents of crude bomb explosions and arson attacks on parked buses in different parts of the capital at night, he said suspects involved in the crude bomb attacks had been arrested along with motorcycles and were being interrogated.

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Those involved in incidents near the High Court gate and in Jatrabari had also been brought to justice, while CCTV footage was being analysed to identify others involved, he said.
The minister said neither the government nor the people were intimidated by such activities, adding that the people had already rejected them.

On the opposition's recent long marches, Salahuddin said every political party has the right to engage in constructive criticism and programmes under democratic practices.

He said the recent long marches in Chattogram and the northern region were held peacefully, with law enforcement agencies extending necessary cooperation.

The minister said the ultimate decision in politics would come through public opinion, while the government's primary responsibility was to maintain peace and order, end the culture of impunity and ensure speedy justice for crimes.

Speaking about the electricity and fuel crisis, he attributed the situation mainly to rising global oil prices and past neglect of domestic gas exploration.

He said although accumulated problems from the previous period had created a temporary crisis in the power and energy sector, the present government was focusing on extracting the country's own resources.

The government has planned to drill 150 new gas wells by 2030-31 to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies to the industrial sector, he said.

As part of the plan, 12 million cubic feet of gas per day has already been added to the national grid from Well No 28 of the Titas Gas Field.

Salahuddin expressed optimism that Bangladesh would soon become self-sufficient in gas through the use of its own natural resources and find a lasting solution to the power and energy crisis.

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Three detained over Opratim’s murder

Responding to a question about the recent incident in Tejgaon, the minister said 23 people were detained on intelligence information after they allegedly held a secret meeting at a mosque following Friday prayers.

After forensic examination of their mobile phones and preliminary interrogation, 11 people against whom no evidence was found were released into the custody of their guardians, he said.

According to information obtained about the others, they were allegedly attempting to form a new extremist organisation called "Ittihadul Ummah", he said.

Reiterating the government's zero-tolerance policy against any form of extremism, the minister said cases had been filed against those involved and they had been placed on remand, while investigations were continuing in accordance with the law.