Police have arrested a local Awami League leader and a Jamaat leader from Sundarganj Upazila in connection with the murder of ruling party lawmaker from Gaibandha-1 constituency Manjurul Islam Liton. The arrested were identified as Ahsan Habibi Masud alias killer Masud, a leader of Awami League’s Sundarganj Upazila unit and a former vice-chairman of Upazila Parishad. The Jamaat leader was identified as Md Saiful Islam Mondhol, Jamaat’s Sundarganj Amer and headmaster of Cengbari High School. Talking to The Independent, Sundarganj OC Atiur Rahman confirmed the arrests.
Local sources said Ahsan Habibi Masud was involved with Jatiya Samajtrantik Dal but later joined the ruling Awami League in 2009. As slain MP Liton opposed his joining to AL, a open conflict was created between Liton and killer Masud. With the detention of Ahsan, the number of suspects picked up by law enforcers rises to 53, including six members of Jamaat-e-Islami. UNB adds: A Gaibandha court yesterday placed six suspects on a 7-day remand in a case filed in connection with the killing of MP Liton.
 The remanded suspects are: Farid Miah, 75, of Ramvadra Kadamtala village, Samiul Islam, 32, of Nichpara village, Hadisur Rahman, 30, of Khamarpachgachhi village, Ziaur Rahman, 32, of Uttar Hatibanda village, Hazrat Ali, 44, of Khanabari village, and Nabinur Khandakar, 45, of Shibram village of the upazila. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mainul Hasan Yusuf passed the order after investigation officer of the case Abu Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, officer-in-charge (Investigation) of Sundarganj Police Station, produced them before the court seeking a 7-day remand. Earlier on December 31, 2016, unidentified assailants shot Liton at his village home at Masterpara in Bamandanga union of Sundarganj Upazila. The MP was admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital where he died of bullet injuries. MP Liton’s younger sister Fahmida Bulbul Kakoli filed a murder case with Sundarganj police station the following day.