The attack on AKM Enamul Hoque Shamim, former president of Chhatra League and now a central leader of Awami League, was over a feud involving his business but not politics, an investigation officer said yesterday.
He said detectives had already identified the shooters, planners, and arms as well as financiers in the incident that happened on June 19.
“Shooters were hired by a second party who was given the task by the financiers in exchange of a handsome amount. We will disclose the findings very soon. The whole ring is under surveillance,” the official, also a member of RAB, said seeking anonymity.
“Detectives have detained Md Harun, Rana and Monir Hossain, alias Russel from Benapole yesterday who were trying to cross the border into India. The three were in the group of the attackers of Shamim,” he said.
“During interrogation, the three said the attack was planned for June 13 but was delayed till June 19 as they were hired,” he said.
“A group hired them to kill Shamim over a trifle matter, who survived the attack but received bullet wounds. Detectives are conducting drives to arrest people who hired the three in order to have a clear idea about the motive for the attack,” he added.
Of the detainees, Monir is the ex-vice president of Tejgaon thana ward 39 unit of Chhatra League. He is also an accused in trader Faruque killing case in Tejgaon. He was bailed out a few months ago.
“Monir, who came from Patuakhali, coordinated the attack. On the other hand, local goon Harun is from Jamalpur. A total of ten people took part in the attack,” said the official.
Although the miscreants took position on road 10/a in Dhanmondi at 7am on June 13, they failed to execute the plan.
On the morning of June 19, three youths including Rana and Harun took position a few yards away from Shamim’s house on a motorbike, with Rana in the driving seat. Two other groups on two motorbikes also took position near Ibn Sina Diagnostic Centre on road 9/a.
The group followed Shamim’s car as it came out of his residence. They took six seconds to fire three shots at the car when it reached in front of the diagnostic centre.
Following the shooting, they called the people who hired them and said it was done.
Detectives found two small firearms were used in the attack, which was rented for Tk10,000.
Shamim was on his way to his Stamford University office when he was attacked. He was sitting beside the driver and his uncle Nasir Ahmed was in the back of the car.
Two bullets broke through the glass of the vehicle and hit Shamim in his hand but he survived.
Shamim and his family members said they had no idea who shot him and why.
