Bangladesh Seeks Consular Access to Faisal Karim Masud and Associate

Bangladesh has formally requested consular access to Faisal Karim Masud — the prime suspect in the murder of Inqilab Moncho leader Osman Hadi — and his associate Alamgir Sheikh, both arrested in West Bengal, India.

The request was made by Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata shortly after the arrests were reported, according to Anandabazar Patrika. The commission contacted local administration and also approached New Delhi to facilitate meetings with the detainees.

West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force (STF) arrested the two Bangladeshi nationals late Saturday night in Bongaon, near the border. During preliminary interrogation, they revealed that they had illegally entered India through the Meghalaya border after committing the murder and extortion in Bangladesh. The duo had been sheltering near the border with plans to cross back into Bangladesh.

The STF described the arrests as a major success based on secret intelligence. Both suspects are now in police custody, and a specific case has been filed against them. They were produced in court and remanded.

Osman Hadi, 32, was shot dead in Dhaka last December. He was rushed to a Singapore hospital under government arrangement but succumbed to his injuries. His death sparked renewed unrest across Bangladesh.