The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Monday claimed to have uncovered the motive behind the killing of Jubo Dal activist Md Yusuf in the capital's Mirpur area.
According to the DB, four professional hitmen from Magura and Jhenaidah were hired for Tk 25 lakh to assassinate Hafizul Islam Babu, member secretary of Kafrul Thana Jubo Dal.
However, the assailants allegedly mistook their target, resulting in the fatal shooting of Yusuf instead. Eight people, have so far, been arrested in connection with the case.
Additional Commissioner (DB) Shafiqul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road in the capital on Monday afternoon.
The arrested suspects are Chanchal, Jihad Molla, 30, Ziarul Molla, 39, Masum Billah, 28, Nahid Hasan, 21, Abir Hawlader, 25, Ali Hossain, 45, and Shafin Ahmed, 22.
Shafiqul Islam said Yusuf was shot dead by armed assailants on Link Road beside Opex Garments in the Kafrul area. Two others, a vegetable vendor, Nalam Sardar, and Md Monir Hossain, were also seriously injured in the attack.
One of the suspects, Chanchal, was caught by local residents while attempting to flee with a firearm and was handed over to police. Yusuf's elder brother, Md Masud Rana, later filed a murder case with Kafrul Police Station.
The DB chief said investigators from the DB's Mirpur Division launched a parallel investigation alongside local police. Using intelligence and information technology, detectives first arrested Nahid Hasan and Shafin Ahmed. Their confessional statements later led to the arrests of Ziarul Molla, Ali Hossain, Jihad Molla and Masum Billah from different districts. Abir Hawlader had already been detained by local residents and handed over to police.
According to investigators, the murder stemmed from a long-running rivalry between Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, alias "CNG Hafiz," joint convener of Kafrul Thana Swechchhasebak Dal, and Hafizul Islam Babu, member secretary of Kafrul Thana Jubo Dal.
Police said the dispute centred on the control of municipal waste collection contracts, roadside shops, business interests and a tin-shed property. As tensions escalated, professional killers from Magura and Jhenaidah were allegedly hired for Tk 25 lakh to assassinate Babu.
Shafiqul Islam said the first attempt to kill Babu was planned for June 29 but failed after the firearm malfunctioned while the attackers were loading ammunition.
The suspects allegedly returned to Dhaka on July 22 and stayed at a hotel in Mirpur-2 before launching another attempt the following night.
According to the DB, when several people standing in front of Babu's office questioned the suspects about their identities, they claimed to be residents of Mirpur-10. As locals attempted to search them, one of the assailants allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot Yusuf in the chest.
Replying to a question about reports that 30 to 35 murders committed in Dhaka since August 5 appeared to have political links, Shafiqul Islam said police were not concealing anyone's political identity.
"The political affiliations of both the victims and the intended targets are being disclosed, and strict legal action is being taken against those responsible," he said.
The investigation has also suggested that the attack may have been linked to the upcoming councillor election.
Police identified Hafiz as the alleged mastermind behind the plot and said efforts were underway to arrest him. Investigators believe part of the Tk 25 lakh contract amount had already been paid in advance, while the suspects' hotel accommodation and food expenses were also financed by the planners.
Police have recovered one firearm and are continuing efforts to trace the source of the remaining weapons.
