Detective Branch (DB) police have arrested four people, including the prime suspect, in connection with the killing of a BNP leader in Adabar area of the capital, following a dispute linked to a World Cup football match.
The arrested individuals are Ripan, Nirob, Monju Miah and Md Mizanur Rahman.
During the drive, police also recovered a knife allegedly used in the killing.Addressing a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Friday, Additional Commissioner (Detectives) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md Shafiqul Islam said the arrests were made following analysis of CCTV footage, intelligence inputs and using technological surveillance.
He said the suspects were detained during a raid in Sahabnagar area of Ishwarganj upazila in Mymensingh around 9:30pm on Thursday.
Preliminary findings show that Ripan directly stabbed the victim, Abul Bashar, he added, though police said the attacker’s political affiliation has not yet been confirmed.
The DMP official also said no case has been filed so far in connection with the killing, adding that investigators are looking into possible additional motives and involvement of others.
According to police and local sources, the incident originated from a dispute during a World Cup football match on 29 June over a trivial matter, which later led to tensions between local groups.
Later, an arbitration (salish) meeting was held on Wednesday night near D-Block of Naobodoy Kitchen Market in Adabar, which escalated into a clash.
During the incident, BNP leader Md Abul Bashar, general secretary of Nabodoy Housing Unit BNP, and Md Saddam Hossain were injured.
Abul Bashar was first taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died around 11:30pm while undergoing treatment.
Saddam Hossain is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
