8 JMB member charged over Hoshi Kunio murder

Police has submitted charge sheet against eight members of banned Islamist militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) over Hoshi Kunio, Japanese national who was gunned down in broad daylight by unidentified miscreants in Kachu Alutari area of Kawnia upazila, Rangpur on October 3, 2015, murder case.

Abdur Kader Zilani, officer-in-Charge of Kaunia police station also the investigation officer of the case filed the charge sheet against Masud Rana, 28, Regional Commander of JMB, Ishaque Ali, 34, Liton Mia, 32, Abu Syed, 28, Saddam Hossain, 32, Ahsan Ullah Ansari, 31, Nazrul Islam, 32, Sakhawat Hossain Shofique, 30, with Kaunia Territorial Jurisdiction Court on Sunday afternoon.

Earlier, on October 3, 2015, Kunio Hoshi, 65, the Japanese national was gunned by unidentified miscreants in Kachu Alutari area of Kawnia upazila, Rangpur.

After the killing, top government officials claimed that activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were involved in the killing and police arrested eight people, including local BNP leader Biplab and Hoshi’s business partner Hia in allegation of involving with the murder.

The law enforcers took them on remand for several times but they could not find any clues about the murder.

The killing case has taken on a new dimension after JMB commander Masud Rana, 40, was arrested on December 9, 2015. He also made a confessional statement before a Rangpur court saying that he shoots Kunio.

Later, police arrested another JBM man identified as Eshak. He also gave confessional statement before a court.

Golam Faruk, director inspector general of police, Rangpur range recently said police had completed investigation into the killing of Kunio Hoshi and they would submit a charge sheet by the end of this month.