Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the family members of Md Habibur Rahman said, "We do not know whether he is alive or not."

Victim's wives Tipu Sultana Khatun and Sajna Begum said they live in separate flats at Shahjalal Upashahar, and there is no misunderstanding between them.

Sultana said, "Habibur Rahman took Iftar with me on October 17 and then went out for other house on the same road where Sajna lives. Since then he went on missing."

In a statement, they said the police arrested three persons including two nephews of the victim. The nephews Ashok and Emad were beaten up in the police custody in the name of interrogation, they alleged.

"We believe that they do not have any link to the incident. So we urge the police to stop torture on them," the statement said.

Earlier, the wives of the victim handed over a memorandum to the deputy inspector general of police urging him to find out Habibur Rahman.

The case had been transferred to the Detective Branch on Saturday and Inspector Shafiqul Alam had been made the invetsigation officer.

Meanwhile, President of Sylhet Chamber Mohiuddin Ahmed has expressed his concern at the incident and met the District BNP Convenor M Ilyas Ali MP for his help in rescuing the businessman.

Ilyas has requested the state minister for home for taking necessary steps in this regard.