Police have arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in brutal killing of a trader near Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (Mitford Hospital) in the capital.
A group of miscreants murdered scrap metal trader Lal Chand alias Sohag (39) in public in front of the hospital at around 6:00 pm on July 9.
He was brutally hacked, beaten and bludgeoned to death near a gate of the hospital.
His head and body were severely crushed.
An accused in court
At one point the miscreants stripped off his clothes and some attackers were seen jumping on his body.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) additional police commissioner (crime and operations) S N Md Nazrul Islam disclosed the development on Saturday to the media at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre in the capital.
He said that on information, police from Kotwali Police Station rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
He said that the victim's daughter Manjuara Begum (42) filed a case with Kotwali Police Station on July 10. In the case 19 accused were named and another 15-20 unidentified suspects were also included in it.
He said that police recovered the dead body and sent it to hospital for autopsy after completing all legal formalities.
He said that police collected CCTV footages and carried out raids at different places in the capital on Friday.
Mahmudul Hasan Mohin (41) and Tarique Rahman Robin (22) were arrested on July 11. A foreign-made pistol was also recovered from Tarique Rahman Robin's possession.
He said that later Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) also arrested Alamgir (28) and Monir alias Choto Monir (25).
He said that a police team of Kotwali Police Station during a raid early on Saturday arrested another accused for murdering the trader. The name of the arrestee is Md Titon Gazi (32).
Replying to a question, the DMP additional police commissioner that a smart team of police was given the responsibility to unearth the clues to this brutal killing as well as arrest the rest of the absconding accused persons.
He said that police drive would continue to nab the rest of the accused. He said that primarily it was assuming that the fatal incident happened due to business and extortion-related disputes and previous enmity.
Members of the Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal were allegedly involved in the attack on July 9, 2025.
Among the four arrested is Mahmudul Hasan alias Moin, who identifies himself as a Jubo Dal leader in the area.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Ganosamhati Andolon, AB Party, and Gono Odhikar Parishad along with other parties and organisations have strongly condemned this horrific murder.
In protest, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation and Islami Chhatra Andolon carried out separate processions on the Dhaka University campus on Friday night.
Students of Jagannath University also demonstrated in Old Dhaka. Several organisations such as Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and Bangladesh Ganotantrik Chhatra Sangsad demonstrated on Saturday in protest against the killing.
BNP's youth wing, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, announced expulsion of two accused from their organisation.
Those expelled are Rajjab Ali alias Pintu (13th accused), former assistant secretary for climate affairs of the Jubo Dal central executive committee, and Sabah Karim alias Lucky (11th accused), joint convener of Dhaka south city Jubo Dal.
The organisation also demanded legal action against them.
In a similar move, Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal expelled two other accused of the case, Apu Das, member secretary of Chawk Bazar Chhatra Dal unit (17th accused), and Kalu alias Swechchhasebak Kalu, a local activist of Swechchhasebak Dal (12th accused).
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul vowed on Saturday to ensure swift justice for the brutal murder, promising exemplary punishment to the perpetrators through speedy trial.
"The government is committed to speedy trial for the brutal murder at Mitford. This heinous crime will be prosecuted promptly, and exemplary punishment will be delivered," he said in a post on his verified Facebook page.
He confirmed that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, and police have launched a thorough investigation with high priority.
"The case will be transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal, and arrangements are being made for an expedited trial under Section 10 of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002," he maintained.
BSS adds: Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd) said on Saturday all involved in the brutal murder would be brought to book.
"We will bring all the culprits to book involved in the killing," he said after visiting the Dhaka Police Lines, Range Reserve Force and Traffic and Driving School in the Mail Barrack area of Old Dhaka.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
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