Police have arrested six people so far in connection with the murder of Abdul Hakim Chowdhury, BNP activist and a businessman, in Chattogram’s Raozan upazila last month.
They also recovered foreign-made firearms, ammunition, and a motorcycle believed to have been used in the killing, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Russell.
The arrests were made during a raid on Sunday at a house belonging to Ayub Ali Soudagar in Chowdhuryhat area of Noapara, said Russel, also spokesperson of the district police.
ASP (Crime) Tarek Aziz said, “This was a planned murder. The masterminds hired contract killers to execute the plan. We have already identified the main financier and the planners behind the killing.”
Two of the six detainees were directly involved in the shooting, while the others assisted in planning and logistics.
According to police, on 7 October, Abdul Hakim went to Raozan to visit Hamim Agro Farm in his private car. In the afternoon, while returning to Chattogram city, unidentified criminals on a motorcycle intercepted his car near the west side of Madunaghat Bridge and opened fire indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured.
Hakim later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
The investigation began to progress after police arrested one suspect, Abdullah Khokon alias Langra Khokon, from the Garib Ullah Para area on 31 October. In his confessional statement to the court, Khokon admitted to his involvement and named his accomplices.
Based on his information, another suspect, Md Maruf, was arrested from Chowdhuryhat on 2 November. On 5 November, police detained two more suspects Md Saklain Hossain and Ziaur Rahman and two others.
The investigation has also uncovered links between two local criminal groups and an influential syndicate involved in the sand business along the river.
Police said they have identified another 10 to 12 individuals connected to the crime through digital forensics and ongoing interrogation. Efforts are underway to arrest them.
