Police announce arrest of four over Muchabbir killing, including the ‘shooter’

Police have yet to find the motive behind the murder

Police have announced the arrest of four suspects in the murder of former Jatiotabadi Swecchasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Muchabbir.

The Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said they arrested the “shooter”.

Police, however, are still trying to find a motive.

Business rivalry was initially considered a possible motive, but police believe there could also be a political angle.

Extortion in Karwanbazar might have been another reason for the killing.

The arrestees include the alleged shooter Jinat, identified with a single name, and Md Billal Hossain, who was identified as the coordinator of the murder.

The other arrestee Abdul Qadir allegedly helped the suspects flee after the killing, while Md Riaz had carried out the recce before the crime.

The information was revealed at a media briefing held at the DMP Media Centre.

The suspects were identified with the help of CCTV footage and information obtained from witnesses, said DMP Additional Police Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam.

The four suspects were arrested following raids in Dhaka, Manikganj, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Bhairab, and Kishoreganj.

A motorcycle used in the murder was also seized during the raids, police said.

The suspects confessed to the murder, said Shafiqul.

Shortly after 8pm on Wednesday, unidentified gunmen opened fire on Muchabbir in the alley of the Ahsanullah Institute of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, adjacent to Hotel Superstar on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue.

Abu Sufian Bepari Masud, general secretary of the Van Workers’ Union under Tejgaon Thana, also suffered bullet injuries in the drive-by shooting.

Police are yet to recover the weapon used in the murder.

Shafiqul said they have so far found no political involvement of the suspects.

Police are looking for another suspected “shooter”, Rahim, identified with a single name.

Police are also investigating the allegation that Tk 1.5 million was paid from abroad for the murder.

Days before the murder, Muchabbir had organised a human chain, which resulted in a fight. Police are also investigating whether Muchabbir’s growing popularity as a political leader played a role in the killing.

Muchabbir was the former general secretary of the Dhaka north unit of the Jatiotabadi Swecchasebak Dal and had previously served as a joint secretary of the organisation’s central committee.

During the last Awami League government, he was arrested several times and imprisoned.

A case has been filed with Tejgaon Police against unidentified individuals a day after the murder. The case was filed by his wife Suraiya Begum.

He had been receiving “death threats” for quite a while, she told police.