What led to the murder of Deepto TV journo?

A dispute between a landowner and a construction company regarding a building contract led to the killing of broadcast journalist of Deepto Television Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim, said police.

Although the developer was supposed to hand over the flats to the landowner, they sold them to someone else, leading to tensions. The landowner's son, Tamim, was murdered by the flat buyers and the developers' associates, they added.

Police have so far arrested five people in connection with the incident, following a murder case filed by the victim's father, Sultan Ahmed. 

The arrestees are Abdul Latif, 46, Kurban Ali, 24, Mahin, 18, Mojammel Hossain Kabir, 52, and Badhon, 20.

The DMP Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner Ruhul Kabir Khan made the comments at the DMP Media Centre in Dhaka on Friday. 

• Broadcat journalist killed over flat handover in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel

He said that a construction contract between a landowner and real estate company Pleasant Properties (Pvt) Ltd stipulated that several flats would be handed over to the landowner. However, the developer sold one flat to Md Mamun, an officer in the Narcotics Control Department, leading to a dispute.

On October 10, during a visit to his flat, the landowner's son, Tamim, was attacked by Abdul Latif, the managing director of the developer, along with 20 to 25 others. Tamim was taken to Monowara Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The victim's father, Sultan Ahmed, filed a murder case, alleging that the developer's owner, a powerful BNP leader, orchestrated the attack. The narcotics control officer was also implicated in the incident.

In response to a question, the deputy commissioner said: "We are not considering political identities. We see this as a crime and the perpetrator as a criminal. Whoever they are, if they are responsible, we will definitely file a charge sheet against them.”

Regarding allegations that the police did not take action earlier due to political influence, Ruhul Kabir said: "The officer-in-charge (OIC) of Hatirjheel police station has already been removed for negligence. We have found preliminary evidence.”