Govt receives audio clips of Ekram: Home Minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said the government has received the audio clips of the last mobile phone conversations between slain Teknaf ward councillor Ekramul Haque and his family members.

“A team led by a magistrate will investigate the audio clips,” said the minister while talking to reporters at an anti-drug awareness programme at Stamford University’s Siddeswari campus in Dhaka. 

Local Awami League leader and Teknaf ward councillor Ekramul Haque was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Cox's Bazar on the night of May 26.

The list of drug traders is very long and the intelligence units of law enforcement agencies are updating it regularly, Asaduzzaman said adding, “The drive will continue until all the listed drug traders are arrested.”

In another query, the minister said around 85,000 prisoners are now there in different jails. “Among them, 37 percent are accused in drug-related cases.”

Causalities are not expected in any drive, the minister further said. “There’s no murder which is out of the investigation,” he added.

Asaduzzaman, however, urged all to raise voice against drugs.

The minister said the young generation of the country is being derailed after becoming drug addicts.

“Today’s youths will lead the nation in 2041. They’ve to be saved from drug abuse. The government has declared the anti-narcotics drive in a bid to save the young generation.”

Stamford University Vice-chancellor Prof Mohammad Ali Naqi presided over the programme. Farid Uddin Ahmed, secretary of Security Services Division of the Home ministry was, among others, present.

With UNB inputs