Jamal Uddin's sons Liton and Rana burst into tears as the police and Rab men retrieved the skull of the slain magnate at about 10:20pm, two years and one month into the sensational abduction on July 24, 2003.

The elite force dug up the skeleton from the hideout of Kanchan Nagar Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Abul Kashem Chowdhury, a prime accused in the abduction case.

Sources said the remains were to be taken to wife of Jamal Uddin yesterday for confirmation as Liton and Rana were still a little doubtful whether they were of their father.

The Rab will conduct a DNA test to confirm the identity of the recovered skeleton, sources said.

HOW THE SKELETON WAS FOUND
Sobhan, the driver of the microbus used in the abduction of Jamal Uddin, named Shahidul Islam alias Shahid Chairman and Kashem Chairman as the masterminds and Nazim Uddin of Hiledhar, Ishaq Ahmad, Shafiuddin and Yusuf as directly involved in the abduction.

Shahid is the chairman of Anwara Sadar UP where the village house of abducted Jamal Uddin is located.

The Rab arrested Shahid Chairman at Patenga beach on August 13.

The Rab men brought Kala Mahbub, an alleged murder of Jamal Uddin arrested on November 01, 2004, Shahid Chairman, UP Chairman Shahjahan arrested on August 17 and microbus driver Sobhan face-to-face and cross-examined their statements.

From their separate interrogation afterwards, Rab became certain that Kala Mahbub and driver Sobhan were with kidnapped Jamal at the last stage of the abduction.

On remand, Shahid Chairman admitted that he was involved in Jamal Uddin's abduction until handing him over to another group for carrying him to the hideout under the custody of Kashem Chairman of Kanchan Nagar UP in Fatikchhari upazila.

He also said Maruf Nizam, brother of ruling BNP lawmaker Sarwar Jamal Nizam, orchestrated the abduction plot and had it accomplished with the help of his business partner Helal and Shahjahan Chairman.

From Fatikchhari Jamal was taken to a house reportedly of a sex worker where he was kept for two days. Then Jamal was shifted to the house of Alamgir, a close associate of Kashem Chairman. On the 24th day (August 16, 2003) of his abduction, Jamal was brought to Fakirer Tila, about two kilometres off Alamgir's home.

As per the directions of the kidnappers, Kashem ordered to kill Jamal, said Kala Mahbub to journalists at around 9:30pm yesterday night at the spot of grave-digging.

Kala Mahbub, Kana Sultan, Chhoto Osman and Shahjahan--all close aides of Kashem Chairman--strangled Jamal to death and hanged him from a tree for a while. Later, they buried the body at a remote hill in Fatikchhari, Kala Mahbub said.

Shahid Chairman was present at a distance at the time of killing Jamal, Kala Mahbub said.

He told journalists that Maruf had promised him Tk 1 crore for killing Jamal Uddin but has not paid a single penny.

Rab and Police completed the digging of earth at around 10:20pm and found the skeleton.

The elite force found the grave while searching in the remote area along with Kala Mahbub and Sobhan.