Police have arrested five people, including the alleged mastermind, in connection with the murder of Imran Hossain, who was shot dead over establishing dominance and controlling the local drug trade in the capital’s Dholpur area under Jatrabari Police Station.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the DMP Wari Division, Mallick Ahsan Uddin Sami, disclosed the details during a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Wednesday.
Officers from Jatrabari Police Station made the arrests and recovered one pistol, two magazines, five rounds of live ammunition, six cocktails (improvised explosive devices), three Chinese axes, two meat cleavers (chapatis), two switchblade knives, and one Yamaha motorcycle.
The arrestees have been identified as Riazul Islam alias Riaz alias Kailla Riaz (also referred to as Kalia Riaz), Kamrul Hasan, Mohammad Saiful Hossain, Jamil Mia alias Dolon, and Mithu alias Dobar Mithu.
Describing the incident, Mallick Ahsan Uddin Sami said on 6 September at around 10:30pm, Imran and Saddam were sitting inside Sharif’s garage in Badal Sardar Gali in Dholpur.
A group of miscreants wearing helmets and masks arrived on three motorcycles and opened indiscriminate fire on them. The assailants also attacked them with sharp weapons.
Imran died on the spot, whilst Saddam sustained critical injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Following the killing, the deceased Imran’s wife filed a murder case as plaintiff at Jatrabari Police Station. A team from Jatrabari Police subsequently conducted raids across various areas of Dhaka Metropolitan and Dhaka District.
On 8 September, police arrested the alleged primary mastermind, Riazul Islam alias Riaz alias Kalia Riaz, from the Par Gandariyabag area under South Keraniganj Police Station.
A pistol, two magazines, five rounds of live bullets, and a Yamaha motorcycle were seized from Riaz’s possession.
Police initially suspect that the recovered firearm was used in the homicide. Based on information provided by Riaz, officers later recovered a Chinese axe from beneath his bed.
On the same day, based on information divulged by Riaz, police arrested Kamrul Hasan and Mohammad Saiful Hossain from the Pathandogai area under Demra Police Station. A subsequent raid at a rented house based on their statements led to the recovery of six cocktails, two Chinese axes, two meat cleavers, and two switchblade knives.
In addition, on 8 September, Mithu alias Dobar Mithu was arrested along with 70 pieces of Yaba tablets. The following day, 9 September, police arrested Jamil Mia alias Dolon for his involvement in the crime.
A total of four cases have been instituted regarding the incident and weapons recoveries: a murder case at Jatrabari Police Station, an Arms Act case at South Keraniganj Police Station, an explosives case at Demra Police Station for the recovery of cocktails, and a case under the Narcotics Control Act at Jatrabari Police Station against Mithu for the Yaba recovery.
DC Sami noted that the arrestees face multiple prior criminal cases across various police stations. Riazul alias Kalia Riaz faces several cases involving robbery, mugging, arms, and explosives offences.
Kamrul Hasan has cases registered against him for theft, robbery, and preparation for robbery. Mithu alias Dobar Mithu faces multiple charges involving narcotics and preparation for robbery.
According to police, drug spots in the Dholpur area were previously allegedly controlled by criminal Liton alias “Shooter Liton,” who is currently in prison. Liton’s associate, Khaki Babu, was also arrested and sent to jail.
Following their imprisonment, several new groups began competing for territorial dominance and control over the local drug market. Police initially suspect that the murder of Imran occurred as a direct result of this ongoing rivalry.
A police official said interrogation of the arrestees and ongoing probes confirmed rivalry over dominance and drug trade control as the principal motive.
Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the firearms, who supplied them, and whether additional accomplices were involved. Police operations remain underway to arrest other suspects and search for further hidden arms.
