�Sweden� Aslam awaits release

Home ministry writes to PMO, IGP for filing appeal against bail for the dreaded criminal

One of the most dreaded criminals of Dhaka, Sheikh Aslam, alias Sweden Aslam, now serving time at the Kashimpur High Security Prison on murder charges is likely to come out of jail any time,  apprehends the home ministry. The home ministry in a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) recently informed that out of 12 cases, Aslam has been acquitted in 11 and got bail in the last one. The case number 117 (3) 97, in which he was granted bail, was filed on charges of murder, it said. “If the authorities concerned do not file appeal against the court verdict awarding bail to Aslam, the notorious criminal will be freed. This will tarnish the image of the government,” warned the letter signed by a deputy secretary of the ministry.
According to the letter, “A person by the name of Jongi Mama, who enjoys free access to the jail, is working as an intermediary between Aslam and his mentors outside to get him out of the prison.”
“Earlier, a number of hardened criminals, including Bikash Chandra Biswas, were released without the knowledge of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. If such a trend continues, it will tarnish the image of the government and also the law and order situation might deteriorate,” the letter added.
A senior jail super told The Independent on condition of anonymity that Aslam is currently in jail as the court issued production warrant against him.  “He will be released if the court withdraws the production warrant against him,” he said.
Inspector General (prisons) Brigadier General Syed Iftekhar Uddin told The Independent that it’s not their job to file appeal against court verdicts. “It is the duty of the police department,” he said.
“We don’t know who is a top criminal or not. We treat the prisoners according to the number and type of cases against them,” he added.
He also informed that the court inspector is supposed to submit a written note describing the nature of cases against the prisoners, but they are not doing so.
“We have sought a list of top criminals from the police through the home ministry, but we are yet to receive it,” he said. He also informed that currently there are 38 hardened criminals lodged in various jails.
He said that his department was recently asked by the home minister for ensuring extra security during the movement of notorious criminals and militants to and from the courts.
Iftekhar Uddin wondered how notorious criminals are managing to get dates for hearing of their cases pending with the court when ordinary prisoners have to endure long waiting periods.
“On few occasions, we received ‘fake’ production warrant so that we would send the prisoner to the court,” the IG informed.
The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Sweden Aslam from his DOHS residence in the city's cantonment area on May 20, 1997 in connection with a murder case. A pistol, a shotgun, a shutter gun, a revolver and six bullets were recovered from his house.
Sources said hardened criminals such as Subrata Bayeen, Mollah Masud, Nobi Hossain Adnan, Prince, Haris, Ashique, Prokash, Bikash, Shahdat, Pial, Zishan, Aga Shahim, Nasir, Imam Hossain, Omar Faruk Kochi, Mashiur Rhamn Kochi, Snaullah and Kala Mabud are on the run, while Sweden Aslam, Joseph and Killer Abbas are in jail.

�Sweden� Aslam awaits release

Home ministry writes to PMO, IGP for filing appeal against bail for the dreaded criminal

One of the most dreaded criminals of Dhaka, Sheikh Aslam, alias Sweden Aslam, now serving time at the Kashimpur High Security Prison on murder charges is likely to come out of jail any time, apprehends the home ministry. The home ministry in a letter to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) recently informed that out of 12 cases, Aslam has been acquitted in 11 and got bail in the last one. The case number 117 (3) 97, in which he was granted bail, was filed on charges of murder, it said. If the authorities concerned do not file appeal against the court verdict awarding bail to Aslam, the notorious criminal will be freed. This will tarnish the image of the government, warned the letter signed by a deputy secretary of the ministry. According to the letter, A person by the name of Jongi Mama, who enjoys free access to the jail, is working as an intermediary between Aslam and his mentors outside to get him out of the prison. Earlier, a number of hardened criminals, including Bikash Chandra Biswas, were released without the knowledge of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. If such a trend continues, it will tarnish the image of the government and also the law and order situation might deteriorate, the letter added. A senior jail super told The Independent on condition of anonymity that Aslam is currently in jail as the court issued production warrant against him. He will be released if the court withdraws the production warrant against him, he said. Inspector General (prisons) Brigadier General Syed Iftekhar Uddin told The Independent that its not their job to file appeal against court verdicts. It is the duty of the police department, he said. We dont know who is a top criminal or not. We treat the prisoners according to the number and type of cases against them, he added. He also informed that the court inspector is supposed to submit a written note describing the nature of cases against the prisoners, but they are not doing so. We have sought a list of top criminals from the police through the home ministry, but we are yet to receive it, he said. He also informed that currently there are 38 hardened criminals lodged in various jails. He said that his department was recently asked by the home minister for ensuring extra security during the movement of notorious criminals and militants to and from the courts. Iftekhar Uddin wondered how notorious criminals are managing to get dates for hearing of their cases pending with the court when ordinary prisoners have to endure long waiting periods. On few occasions, we received fake production warrant so that we would send the prisoner to the court, the IG informed. The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Sweden Aslam from his DOHS residence in the citys cantonment area on May 20, 1997 in connection with a murder case. A pistol, a shotgun, a shutter gun, a revolver and six bullets were recovered from his house. Sources said hardened criminals such as Subrata Bayeen, Mollah Masud, Nobi Hossain Adnan, Prince, Haris, Ashique, Prokash, Bikash, Shahdat, Pial, Zishan, Aga Shahim, Nasir, Imam Hossain, Omar Faruk Kochi, Mashiur Rhamn Kochi, Snaullah and Kala Mabud are on the run, while Sweden Aslam, Joseph and Killer Abbas are in jail.