Bangladesh court orders authorities to arrest Italian national Tavella murder suspects, impound their assets

A Dhaka court has ordered the arrest and confiscation of the properties of two absconding accused in Italian Cesare Tavella murder case.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury issued the warrants of arrest for BNP leader MA Kaiyum and Muhammad Sohel alias Bhangari Sohel on Sunday.

The five others arrested in the case are Kaiyum’s brother Abdul Matin, Tamzid Ahammed Rubel alias Shooter Rubel, Russel Chowdhury alias Chakki Russel, Minhazul Arefin Russel alias Bhagne Russel and Shakhawat Hossain alias Sharif.

Aid worker Tavella was shot dead at Dhaka’s diplomatic district Gulshan on Sept 28 last year.

Police on Oct 26 arrested Rubel, Chakki Russel, Bhagne Russel, and Sharif. All of them gave confessional statements to the court, admitting to the killing of the foreigner, police said.

Kaiyum’s brother Matin was arrested on Nov 4 at Jessore’s Benapole while he was fleeing to India.

Though Middle East-based extremist group Islamic State has claimed credit for the murder of Tavella, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said some politicians were involved in the murder.

Police charged Kaiyum and the six others in court on June 28.