Ashish Roy Chowdhury, a fugitive accused in a case filed over the murder of movie actor Sohel Chowdhury in December 1998, had planned to run away to Canada after a Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against him recently.
Media Wing of RAB, Commander Khondker Al-Moin, disclosed the information while addressing a press conference at RAB Media Centre at Kawran Bazar in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.
Ashish, who was never arrested in the case before, had purchased and confirmed a ticket to travel to Canada on April 7. However, he postponed the date and shifted it to April 22 after his friends advised him to secure bail first.
On December 18 in 1998 actor, Sohel Chowdhury was shot and killed in a sequel to his heated arguments with Aziz Mohammad Bhai. Ashish Roy Chowdhury was one of the masterminds of the murder. He divulged information about his involvement in Sohel Chowdhury murder.
His brother, Towhidul Islam had filed a case with the Gulshan police station the next day.
Police on July 30, 1999, filed a charge sheet against nine people and the Dhaka 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on October 30, 2001, charged the accused in the murder case.
The case was later transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 for further proceedings.
The trial in the case has remained suspended for 19 years. Of the nine accused in the case, two, including Ashish, had remained absconding.
Quoting Ashish, RAB Commander Khondker Al-Moin said that a club called, 'Trumps' was set up under joint ownership of Ashish and Asadul Islam alias Bunty Islam at Abedin Tower in Banani in 1996.
Various unsocial activities used to take place over there. At one stage, the club had turned into a den of underworld dons and gang leaders. Aziz Mohammad Bhai used to visit the club frequently.
Aziz used to go to the club regularly to hold meetings with the underworld gangs of Dhaka city. Because of it, a close relationship had developed among Bunty, Ashish and Aziz Mohammad. These three persons used to control the activities of underworld gangs operating in Dhaka city.
RAB said there was Banani Jame Mosque adjacent to the Trumps club. Joining the hands with the mosque committee, actor Sohel Chowdhury tried to stop the unsocial activities of the club, but failed. He also had lodged several protests against it along with the mosque committee.
"As Sohel Chowdhury made attempts to close the club, he became the target of Bunty, Ashish, Aziz Mohammad and the then top terror Sanzidul Islam Imon. On July 24, 1998, there was an altercation between Sohel Chowdhury and Aziz Mohammad. He also assaulted Sohel. Being angry over Sohel, Aziz requested Bunty and Ashish to take revenge against Sohel," said Commander Al-Moin, quoting Ashish.
He had left his Mirpur DOHS house and rented a flat in Gulshan after a new arrest warrant was issued on 26 March this year. He had been hiding in this house since 30 March, RAB said.
According to the RAB, a managing director of a five-star hotel managed the Gulshan house for him after the issuance of the warrant recently.
The accused was working at a well-reputed organization and had earlier worked at several others including at an airline, RAB said.
However, RAB officials did not disclose the names of the hotel's MD and the institutions.
Replying to another query, Commander Moin said Ashish told RAB that he was in Canada four-five years after the murder; travelled to UAE, US and Thailand; and met other accused in the case there.
Moin said Ashish claimed he had an alcohol license but he could not show it. A case under Narcotics Control Act will be filed against him as 27 bottles of liquor were seized from his possession.