Cheetah officials tried to brand Masum, whose full name is Iqbal Hossain, as the notorious criminal "Galakata Masum" and said he was accused in several criminal cases including six murders, but investigation by various newspapers found no case or even a general diary filed against him.

One month into the killing, police could not come up with any specific evidence or record to substantiate their claim and even after a year since the killing no probe report has been submitted.

Masum's parents demanded immediate trial of their son's killers, on July 6 at a press conference at the office of Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (Crab).

On July 10, university students formed a human chain in front of the university gate also demanding punishment of killers.

Masum's parents who live at Sher Shah Shuri Road in Mohammadpur are totally frustrated Masum's with the lack of progress in the case.

"Who will bell the cat? The police themselves are involved. We ask for the judicial probe to be completed," said Masum's father, a retired UN official-turned-businessman.

Cheetah personnel picked Masum up from a community centre where he was attending a function on July 8 last year. Later, he was reported to have been killed in 'crossfire'.

Charge sheet in the case is yet to be submitted although statements of witnesses and locals were taken in January 2006, said the slain student's parents.

According to the family, Masum was a bright student securing a GPA of 5 at the HSC examination. He was an obedient son according to the parents, was punctual for classes and came back home on time.

"I was both his mother and friend. He didn't hide anything from me. So, if he was involved in any illegal activity, I would have known it some how," said Renu Ara, Masum's mother.

"I want the facts to be exposed. I want to know if my son is guilty or someone hatched a conspiracy. I have no other demands," she added.

Khaer said: "We have been living in Mohammadpur for 46 years. Our neighbours have known Masum ever since he was born. No one has had any complaints against our son at any time."

"If he was a terrorist or related to any activity subversive to the state, we would not have demanded judicial probe," Khaer said. The word 'Masum' means innocent and he actually was known as a polite and innocent boy to all relatives, friends and neighbours, added his father.

"If we don't get justice, all the members of our family will kill themselves on a pre-declared date," Khaer further added.

Masum's parents are now worried about the security of their younger son Rajib, a class IX student of Mohammadpur Government High School.

"If the killers are not arrested and punished, they may kill my younger son too," Khaer said adding that unknown callers threatened his family of dire consequences if they raised voice about Masum's death.

Khaer mentioned a dispute with Iqbal Hossain Likhon, chairman of Nilkomol union of Charfashion upazila in Bhola. He alleged that Likhon and someone in Dhaka may have used Detective Branch (DB) men to kill Masum to take revenge on his family. The father wonders whether a Tk 26.9 lakh money suit brought by him against Likhon and some police officials might be a reason behind his son's death.

He added that a fair investigation cannot be carried out without arresting the prime accused Iqbal Hossain Likhon, chairman of Nilkamal Union Parishad in Charfashion of Bhola, and nine personnel of the then DB-4.