A Dhaka court has sentenced Mohammad Rabiul Islam, alias Arav Khan — a Dubai-based gold dealer — and seven others to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of Special Branch (SB) inspector Mamun Imran.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Zakir Hossain Galib handed down the verdict and issued arrest warrants for all eight convicts, including Arav’s wife, Suriya Akter Keya (21); Rahmat Ullah (35), a friend of the victim; Swapan Sarkar (39); Didar Pathan (21); Mizan Sheikh (21); Atik Hasan (21); and Sarwar Hossain (23).
Among the convicts, Arav Khan and his wife Suriya were tried in absentia.
While initially under the radar for the murder, Arav’s sudden emergence as a Dubai-based gold dealer with a lavish lifestyle drew massive public and media attention.
He often flaunted his wealth on social media, mingling with celebrities and influencers, which sparked widespread curiosity and controversy in Bangladesh.
Despite being a fugitive, Arav opened a high-profile jewellery store in Dubai, reportedly attended by Bangladeshi cricketers and entertainers — further fuelling public outrage and raising questions about how a murder accused managed to flee the country and build such a prominent public profile abroad.
His actions embarrassed law enforcement and exposed flaws in the country’s criminal justice system.
The crime and investigation
Inspector Mamun Imran was killed on 7 July 2018, after being lured to a fake birthday party at House 5, Road 2 in Banani, arranged under the pretext of celebrating a model’s birthday. Mamun had gone there with Rahmat Ullah.
According to the case statement, the group — led by Arav Khan — extorted wealthy individuals by luring them into traps, taking obscene photos, and blackmailing them. The murder was part of one such extortion plan.
After beating Mamun to death at the Banani residence, the accused transported his body to Ulukhula in the Rayerdia area of Kaliganj upazila, Gazipur, where they poured petrol over the body and set it on fire to destroy evidence.
Discovery and legal proceedings
On 10 July 2018, Mamun’s charred body was recovered from a forested area in Gazipur. Three days later, his brother Jahangir filed a murder case at Banani Police Station.
Following an investigation, police submitted a charge sheet on 31 March 2019, implicating eight individuals, including Rabiul Islam and Rahmat Ullah. The court accepted the charges and ordered the trial to begin on 25 November 2021, by framing formal charges against the accused.