BNP on Monday urged the Home Minister to explain the death of militant suspect Hanif Mridha in Rab custody as his family members and law enforcers are making contradictory remarks about his detention.

Speaking at a discussion, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also demanded the government carry out a proper investigation into the incident to reveal the fact, reports UNB.

‘RAB has said they arrested Hanif near its Ashkona under-construction headquarters after a bomb blast there suspecting his involvement in the incident, and he died following his chest pain complaint. But his family members are saying Rab picked him up on February 27 from Kanchpur area. They also said he was taken back home a few days after his detention and forced to sign a cheque for Tk 6.70 lakh,’ he said.

The BNP leader further said, ‘We demand a clear explanation from the Home Minister to know which one is correct -- RAB’s explanation or family’s version. You must investigate the incident and make the fact public.’

National People’s Party (NPP), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).

Fakhrul said if the statement of Hanif’s family comes out true then the country’s situation is very horrifying.

Earlier, Rab claimed that they detained Hanif on Friday afternoon near its Ashkona barrack as he was trying to run away from a restaurant after a suicide bomber blew himself up in the area.

The elite force also said Hanif was taken to Kurmitola General Hospital after he complained of chest pain at its camp where doctors declared him dead.

Hanif's wife Kulsum Begum on Sunday told journalists that detectives detained her husband on February 27 as he got down from a launch at a terminal near Kanchpur Bridge.