The prime suspects in the gruesome murders managed to get bail from High Court (HC) and were freed from jail as police delayed submission of charge sheets, they alleged.

Taher's son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed told newsmen that police high-ups did 'not allow submission of charge sheet in the murder case to save criminals belonging to Jamaat-Shibir'.

Prof Taher, teacher of Geology and Mining Department, was missing on February 1 last year. His body was found on February 3 in the morning inside a sewer behind his campus residence. Quoting a police report, Sanjid said Rajshahi police completed investigation into Prof Taher murder in May last year and sought permission from home ministry to press charges. But they were not allowed.

"I met present IGP (Inspector General of Police) Khoda Bux Chowdhury several times when he was in charge of the monitoring cell for sensational cases. He always reasoned that the case lacked a key-witness".

In the meantime, mastermind suspect in the murder RU Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi who was avoiding arrest managed anticipatory bail from HC. Another prime suspect --Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin-- was also released from jail on bail.

Four persons-- Zahangir, Salam, Nazmul, and alleged mastermind Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin--were arrested within a week of the murder in February last year.

Three of the arrestees provided judicial confessions and five among the 43 witnesses gave judicial statements proving that Mohiuddin and Salehi were involved in the murder done by Zahangir, Salam and Nazmul for their personal and political gains, Sanjid said.

"How many witnesses and evidences the killers can leave in a murder?" Taher's wife Sultana Ahmed posed the question amid tears.

Meanwhile, former Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed (who was abused by Jamaat-Shibir leaders in meetings for proving Salehi's involvement) was transferred after he told the media that he was ready to press charges.

Investigation officer of the case, while seeking a property attachment order fgrom court on March 8 last year told the court that police have evidences that Salehi was directly involved in the murder.

"He (Salehi) went into hiding to avoid arrest. Charges will be pressed against him", the IO had told the court.

Yunus Murder Case Prof Yunus, teacher of Economic Department, was murdered on December 24, 2004, when he was on a morning walk near the university.

Rashed Zaman Shovon, son of Prof Yunus said, "Something peculiar is happening with investigation of my father's murder".

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) already brushed aside previous police findings that Shibir was involvement in the killing. It blamed militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB), he said.

The CID informed Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate court that JMB Rajshahi zonal commander Shafiullah Tarik while giving judicial statement on April 13 last year on a bomb blast case in Joydevpur, said JMB was involved in Prof Yunus murder. But the JMB militants arrested in this connection denied their involvement, said Shovon.

Five arrested Shibir cadres including former Binodhpur Shibir president Sirajus Salekin and Zillur Rahman, close aides to absconding Shibir cadre and an accused in the case--Zafar Babu--were freed on bail later.

Despite the confessions, police are yet to submit charge sheet, Shovon regretted.

Two eyewitnesses in separate statements narrated the murder of Prof Yunus by a gang of four and police said the statements were substantiated by some other circumstances and witnesses.

Witness rickshaw-van puller Zahangir Ali in his January 5, 2005 statement said that he could identify only Shibir cadre Zafar Babu of Satbaria among four killers. Police attached properties of Zafar Babu on this statement.

Another witness rickshaw-puller Shahidul Islam Babu on May 8, 2005 said he could identify Zillur Rahman, a RU guard.

He also stated that Zillur threatened him (Babu) with death and drove him away as he was watching the murder.