Three Arrested Including Shooter in Mushabbir Murder

Police have arrested three people in connection with the murder of Azizur Rahman, alias Mushabbir, former General Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan North Swechchhasebak Dal. A team of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested them during raids in Gazipur and Manikganj.

A senior DB official confirmed the information. He said that among those arrested are the “prime shooter” Jinat and suspected planner Billal. The third arrested person is believed to be an associate of the two.

Mushabbir was shot dead by assailants around 8:15 pm on Wednesday in a lane beside Ahsanullah Technology Institute, next to Star Hotel and Restaurant, opposite Karwan Bazar. At that time, his companion Sufian Bepari, alias Masud (50), was also shot. He is the General Secretary of the Karwan Bazar Van Workers’ Union and has been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

According to investigation sources citing CCTV footage analysis, the two main suspects arrived at the scene on a motorcycle 25 minutes before Mushabbir was killed. Another associate had already been waiting at the entrance of the lane beside Star Hotel and Restaurant. The two suspects handed over the motorcycle to him and then went deeper into the dark lane, where they lay in wait. After confirming the killing, the person standing with the motorcycle fled toward Farmgate.

Police say CCTV footage analysis has confirmed the involvement of at least four people. Two of them were seen fleeing the scene after opening fire. One person was seen walking around the lane in such a way that he was not initially suspected. Later, footage from another location showed him consulting with the other three involved. Another identified suspect was standing at the entrance of the lane.

Yesterday afternoon, relatives of the deceased, well-wishers, and political colleagues held a protest in front of Tejgaon Police Station, demanding the arrest of those involved in Mushabbir’s murder. They chanted various slogans demanding justice. Later, they marched to Karwan Bazar, where the protest procession ended.

Tejgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kshaingyu Marma said that some new CCTV footage has been recovered, which clearly shows images of four suspects involved in the murder. He expressed hope that they could be easily identified using the footage. However, the identities of the suspects have not yet been confirmed, and the motive for the murder is still unknown. Police are investigating all possible angles, including disputes over dominance.

Investigation sources said that around 7:50 pm, before shooting Mushabbir, the shooter and his associate arrived at the lane beside Star Hotel on a motorcycle. Shortly after the gunshots, they were seen fleeing the scene. So far, four people present at the scene have been identified, but information suggests that several more individuals were involved at different stages. Police are collecting information about them and are working to bring both those who took part in the killing mission and those behind it to justice.

On Thursday, Mushabbir’s wife, Suraiya Begum, filed a murder case at Tejgaon Police Station, naming four to five unidentified persons as accused. She told journalists that her husband had been receiving death threats. Mushabbir had told her on several occasions that he had made many enemies and could be killed at any time, although he did not specify who those enemies were.