Golam Faizullah Fahim, the youth caught by locals after attacking a teacher at Madaripur, had left home saying he was ‘going abroad’.
Published : 16 Jun 2016, 10:11 PM
Ripon Chakrabarty, a Hindu mathematics teacher at Government Nazimuddin College in Madaripur, was hacked with sharp weapons in a manner similar to the attacks on secular activists and religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Detectives are considering that the attack on Wednesday afternoon was an attempt at what is being described as targeted killing.
Fahim who lived in Uttara’s Dakshinkhan was reported missing by his parents five days before the attack on Chaktabarty.
An HSC candidate for this year, his family and neighbours described him as an introvert who was regular with his prayers.
In the GD, his father mentions receiving a text from Fahim which said: “I’m going abroad, as there is no other way. I will see you again if I’m alive,” Dakshinkhan Police Station SI Abul Kalam Azad told bdnews24.com.
Fahim’s father works in the apparels industry while his mother Kamrun Nahar is a homemaker. The couple who lives in Dakshinkhan’s Fayedabad also has a daughter.
Police were looking for him when the news arrived of his capture by locals in Madaripur.
Police said they found a key chain on Fahim which had Retina Coaching Centre written on it.
It is widely alleged that coaching centre is run by followers of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing for Jamaat-e-Islami. The Ganajagaran Mancha had campaigned to have it closed.
The 18-year-old was a student of the Uttara High School and College. He sat the HSC exams this year but disappeared without taking his chemistry test.
Fahim was a good student, his class teacher Afrin Akter told bdnews24.com.
“He got GPA-5 in his SSC exams. We thought he would get the same in HSC.”
“His mother called me on the day of his chemistry test saying he has disappeared. When I saw his photo on the newspaper, we could not believe he was capable of doing something so horrible.”
As for his behaviour in school, the teacher said, “He came to classes regularly. He was quiet and I am not aware of him having any disputes in school.”
Investigators have said that they were looking into Fahim's possible link to any of the banned militant outfits including Hizb ut-Tahrir.
While detectives gathered information regarding involvement of JMB and Ansarullah Bangla Team in the recent murders, they said Hizb ut-Tahrir has been secretly continuing its activities in different areas.
Fahim's teacher Afrin Akter said they never suspected that he could have joined any militant organisation.
No one from his family at the Dakshinkhan house talked to reporters on Thursday. They did not even open the doors when newsmen knocked.
Seeking anonymity, the driver of a white microbus parked in front of the building told bdnews24.com that the Madaripur Sadar police OC and DB officials had searched the house.
Manjurul Haque Ripon, who lives on the fourth floor, said, "I heard that detectives came to their home along with Fahim's mother in the morning and took away his computer."
Witnesses of the attack in Madaripur said there were three assailants. Madaripur Sadar police Inspector Sukhdeb Roy said earlier in the morning that they took Fahim with them while conducting raids to arrest the others.
Asked about Fahim, Ripon said, "He always appeared polite and gentle. He said his prayers five times every day."
"The family has been living here for one and a half years, but never saw any of his friends. Fahim also didn't leave the locality very often."
Reba Chowdhury, who lives in the flat across Fahim's apartment, said, "I saw his photo in today's paper and realised who he is. I had no idea that someone like him was my neighbour."
Meanwhile, the victim of the attack, Ripon Chakrabarty, who received head and hand injuries, is now out of danger, doctors have said.