A Chattogram court on Tuesday granted a two-day remand for suspected shooter Mohammad Ilias alias “Dhama Ilias” in connection with the murder case of Jubo Dal leader Maksudul Haque Chowdhury in Raozan.
Judicial Magistrate Shakhawat Hossain passed the order after police produced Ilias before the court and sought his remand for interrogation. Following a hearing, the court granted the two-day remand, court officials said.
Chattogram District Court Inspector Habibur Rahman said Ilias was brought to the court under tight security and later sent to police custody for questioning.
According to police, Ilias was arrested in Dhaka on Monday. He is known as a follower of top criminal Sazzad Hossain alias “Chhoto Sazzad” and is accused in 18 cases, including five murder cases.
Investigators said Ilias is one of the prime accused in the murder of Maksudul Haque Chowdhury, who was shot dead in broad daylight in Raozan on 13 June.
They said CCTV footage from the scene showed Ilias carrying a firearm.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Industrial Area and DB) of Chattogram District Mohammad Ibrahim said Ilias was arrested in Dhaka and that the court granted his two-day remand in the murder case.
He added that four people have so far been arrested in the case.
Maksudul, senior joint convener of Rangunia upazila Jubo Dal, was shot dead around 1:30pm on 13 June at Chowmuhani Bazar under Pahartali union of Raozan. His family said he was preparing to contest the upcoming Union Parishad election.
Police suspect the killing may have been linked to a dispute over control of a sand quarry on the Karnaphuli River.
Two days after the killing, Maksudul’s elder brother Peyarul Haque Chowdhury, a former chairman of Betagi Union Parishad in Rangunia, filed a case with Raozan Police Station.
The case names 11 people, including Mohammad Rayhan, Mohammad Ilias, Mohammad Mobarak, Didarul Alam and Mohammad Yusuf, and includes eight unnamed accused.
According to the case statement, Ilias and Didarul allegedly fired at Maksudul first, while Yusuf, Jahed and Absar later chased him and fired several more shots.
The attack took place a few hundred metres from the office of the Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Raozan-Rangunia circle.
Investigators said CCTV footage showed most of the attackers clearly, except one who was wearing a mask. They said three attackers were carrying pistols while two had shotguns.
Police said another accused, Mohammad Rayhan, is a close associate of fugitive criminal Sazzad Ali alias “Boro Sazzad” , who is currently abroad, and has more than 15 cases filed against him over allegations including murder, arms offences and criminal activities.
Investigators claimed that members of Rayhan’s group carried out the killing as part of a planned attack and that those involved were identified through CCTV footage analysis.
