SI Altaf murder: Home Minister orders arrest of all accused

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has ordered the swift arrest of all accused involved in the brutal killing of Sub-Inspector (unarmed) Md Altaf Hossain of the Special Branch (SB), who was killed in a savage attack by miscreants in Aminbazar, Savar, Dhaka.

He issued the directive to the concerned police officials when the family of the deceased came to meet him at his office room at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday, September 17, at noon. During the meeting, the minister assured the bereaved family of all-out support to ensure speedy justice.

The minister said Tk 6 lakh in financial assistance has already been provided from the Police Headquarters welfare fund for the overall welfare of the deceased police officer's family. Additionally, comprehensive assistance, including a loan from 'Community Bank Bangladesh Limited', has been announced to help keep the family business running. At the same time, he directed the authorities concerned to award Altaf Hossain the posthumous 'Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM)' in recognition of his ethics and courageous work during his career. The minister handed over the assistance money to the deceased's wife, Mosammat Shiuli Parvin.

It may be mentioned that on September 5, around 7:30pm, SI Altaf Hossain came under attack by miscreants while trying to settle an argument over the parking of an auto-rickshaw in Bordeshi Paschimpara of Aminbazar, Savar. To save his life, he took shelter at his elder son's business establishment, where the miscreants launched a brutal attack at 8:10pm with local weapons, rods, pipes, hammers and sticks. His younger son, Md Ariful Islam, was also seriously injured by sharp weapons while trying to save his father. Later, locals rescued them and took them to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where the doctor on duty declared SI Altaf Hossain dead. In this incident, the deceased's wife filed a murder case with Savar Model Police Station, naming 15 people as accused.

Altaf Hossain joined the Bangladesh Police as a constable from Sirajganj district in 1986. During his 40-year career, he served in DMP, Rangamati, RRF Rajshahi, RMP and Barishal district. From 2011 until his death, he was working at the Special Branch (SB), Dhaka.

He is survived by his wife and two sons. His elder son, Md Shariful Islam (30), completed a BSc in Pharmacy from Manarat University. His younger son, Md Ariful Islam (24), is studying Mechanical Engineering at the UCEP Polytechnic Institute.