Nine people have been arrested over the murder of a woman who was protesting drug peddling in the Tanbazar area of Narayanganj city on Friday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Arzu Begum, 40.
Arzu’s daughter Lucky said her mother had been campaigning against drugs for a long time, which had led to hostility between her, local drug peddler Ramzan and defence lawyer Hamida Begum.
Quoting locals, Narayanganj Sadar Model police station Inspector (Operations) Joynal Abedin said Arzu and some locals brought out an anti-drug procession and went to Hamida's house at Tanbazar in the afternoon.
They demanded that Hamida not defend drug peddlers in court, he added.
Later, a clash ensued between the protesters and supporters of Hamida, and Arzu was beaten to death. A case was filed against 32 people in connection with the murder.
On Saturday morning, locals waged protests demanding exemplary punishment for Arzu’s killers.
However, police had already arrested nine people in connection with the murder on early Saturday, and they have all been sent to jail, said investigation officer of the case SI Alauddin Azad.