Noakhali suspect reveals BNP-Jamaat link to communal attack: Police 

A communal attack suspect in Noakhali has named 15 BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in connection with inciting the violence in his confessional statement.

The suspect, Faisal Inam Kamol, vice president of Noakhali Swechhasebak Dal, made the confession to a court Monday, said Noakhali Superintendent of Police Md Shahidul Islam on Tuesday.  

"He [Faisal] named 15 leaders from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, including Barkatullah Bulu, vice president of BNP National Executive Committee, as the instigators of the communal violence," said the police official.

He said police arrested eight more individuals including three BNP men from Noakhali and Sylhet in the past 24 hours until Tuesday morning. Of the arrestees, one Imran Hossain Nishan in the initial interrogation said he looted 1.35 lakh from a local temple during the communal attack.

In a separate development Tuesday, three communal attack suspects were placed on a one-day remand. They are Ali Asgar, Nurul Islam Sumon and Nurul Islam Jibon.     

In Cumilla, a case was filed on Tuesday against 50-60 unidentified perpetrators following the death of a victim of communal violence.

The victim – Dilip Das, 62, – was hit on the head by a stone pelted during the attack at Razeshwari temple in Monohorpur on 13 October. He succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka. 

Dilip's wife Puja Rani filed the case with Kotwali Police Station.

In Rangpur, police arrested three more individuals for vandalism, arson and looting, raising the number of total arrests to 69, said Rangpur Superintendent of Police Biplab Kumar Sarker.         

The three arrestees are Ashikur Rahman, Shafikul Islam and Palash Mia.   

"All the culprits who are involved in the attack on Hindu community in Rangpur's Pirganj will be brought to book. None will be spared," said Biplab Kumar.