The prime accused in the murder case of Awami League leader Farhad Hossain has been shot dead during a reported gunfight with police in Satarkul area of Badda in Dhaka.
The gunfight occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. Ramzan Ali alias Ramzan Mia, 26, the deceased, was also accused in a number of other cases, including extortion, with the Badda police station.
Deputy Commissioner of Detective Branch (North Division) of Police Mashiur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune that along with Ramzan, two other listed criminal -- Ashik of Tejgaon and Mehdi of Gulshan -- were involved in murdering Farhad Hossain in June 2018.
“Later, Ramzan fled to India,” he said.
After hearing that Ramzan had returned to Dhaka – to take control over the temporary cattle market to be set up ahead of Eid-ul-Azha – detectives raided the Satarkul area of Badda at 3.45am to arrest him.
Police also had information that Ramzan and his associates were planning to kill Fahad’s eldest son and other rivals, to take full control of extortion rings, at the area’s human hauler and battery-run three-wheeler stand and other markets.
But when police reached Satarkul, understanding their presence, Ramzan’s associates opened fire on police that triggered a gunfight.
The DB deputy commissioner said: “After the gunfight ceased, detectives searched the area and found a man lying on the ground with bullet wounds. The man was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and there the duty doctors declared him dead.
"Later, we identified the man to be Ramzan,” he added.
A pistol, a magazine, one round bullet and a few yaba pills were found from the spot. Ramzan’s associates fled before they could be captured, Mashiur said.
Apart from the Farhad murder, Ramzan was also involved with the ‘Gamma’ murder case, where four people were murdered.
Locals in the area told Dhaka Tribune that Ramzan was involved with various illegal activities, including asking extortion money from construction sites, public transports and the area’s kitchen markets.