Muchabbir had been receiving ‘death threats’, says his wife

BNP volunteer wing leader Azizur Rahman Muchabbir, who was shot dead, had been receiving “death threats” for quite a while, his wife Suraiya Begum informed police.

Ibn-e-Mizan, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Tejgaon Division, told bdnews24.com on Thursday: “Muchabbir’s wife told us that her husband was receiving death threats for some time when she filed the case.”

The deputy commissioner, however, noted that Suraiya did not clarify to police who had made these threats or why.

“Police had not been previously informed by Muchabbir’s side about these threats,” he added.

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 at the time.

Locals later took both men to BRB Hospital, where the attending physician pronounced Muchabbir dead.

Earlier on Thursday, Suraiya filed a case at Tejgaon Police Station against unnamed individuals over the shooting and murder of Muchabbir.

The slain BNP leader 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.

MOTIVES BEING INVESTIGATED BY POLICE

Meanwhile, police have identified two individuals in connection with the murder after analysing CCTV footage.

Officer Ibn-e-Mizan said one person's face is somewhat visible in the footage. “If he can be identified, it will lead to significant progress in the investigation.”

Alongside local police, the Detective Branch (DB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) are working in coordination to identify the suspects, he added.

Police are also looking for a link between Muchabbir’s murder and a previous attack on traders in Karwan Bazar.

On Dec 29 last year, an attack took place during a human chain protest organised by traders against extortion. Following a case filed over the incident, police arrested 11 people.

Officials involved in the murder investigation said that allegations had surfaced claiming Muchabbir was “taking control” of the area after the influence of those arrested for the attack on traders diminished. This had caused significant tension in the locality.

Furthermore, there has been ongoing tension between two groups over the occupation of a garage in the Farmgate area. Preliminary police investigations suggest Muchabbir was involved in this dispute.

Investigating officers say they are examining whether these factors are connected to the death threats reported by Muchabbir’s wife.

The law enforcers, however, also say they are investigating whether there was any political motive behind the killing.

DETAILS FROM THE FIR

On Wednesday night, Muchabbir was chatting with friends on the first floor of the Superstar Hotel in Karwan Bazar, as was part of his daily routine. At 8:10pm, he departed for home alongside Masud, 40, according to the first information report (FIR).

Around 8:20pm, as they reached the paved road outside the Ahsanullah Institute in Tejturi Bazar, four to five unidentified assailants – who had been lying in wait as part of a premeditated plan -- intercepted them. The attackers later opened fire indiscriminately with pistols with the intent to kill.

The Swecchasebak Dal leader was struck by bullets in his right elbow and the right side of his abdomen, causing him to collapse to the ground with profuse bleeding.

When Masud attempted to rescue him, the attackers shot him in the left side of his abdomen as well.

As Masud also fell to the ground with critical injuries, the assailants fled the scene, firing their weapons into the air as they retreated, believing both men to be dead.

Muchabbir’s body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue following his death.

Masud was also transferred from BRB Hospital to DMCH, where he underwent abdominal surgery.

He is now out of danger, according to doctors.