Detective Branch takes over probe into Hadi shooting

A case over the attempted killing only implicates Faisal Karim Masud as the gunman

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has been tasked with investigating the attempted killing of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman Hadi.

A case over the shooting in Dhaka's Bijoynagar was filed at Paltan Police Station on Sunday. On Monday, police said the probe had been transferred to the DB on orders from higher-ups.

Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, deputy commissioner of the DMP's Motijheel Division, said all relevant documents had been passed to the DB, which will now lead the investigation.

Hadi, who had announced plans to run for the Dhaka-8 seat as an independent candidate, was shot on Dec 12 while campaigning in the Bijoynagar area of Dhaka.

Police said an assailant riding pillion on a motorcycle fired at him while he was travelling on a moving battery-powered rickshaw, with the bullet striking him in the head.

The attempted murder case, filed by Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, only implicates Faisal Karim Masud as the gunman. Although the DB has claimed to have identified the driver of the motorcycle as Alamgir, he has not been named in the case.

Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested four people in connection with the case, including Masud’s wife, his brother-in-law and his brother-in-law’s girlfriend, as well as the owner of the motorcycle allegedly used in the shooting.

The DB also said it had arrested two more people in Sherpur on separate human trafficking charges during the investigation.

In a parallel move, the National Board of Revenue said it has frozen all bank accounts belonging to Masud and his IT firm, Apple Soft IT Limited.

Hadi remains in critical condition and has been airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical care.