Seven people have been arrested over the stabbing of Ahmed Hossain, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital, in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area in a dispute linked to hospital tenders.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained five suspects, while police arrested two others in separate operations, officials said on Tuesday.
RAB Legal and Media Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury confirmed the arrests at a briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar.
The attack took place on Monday afternoon amid tensions between rival groups over hospital tender work. RAB said hired assailants carried out the attack on instructions from a man named Rubel, who is currently in Malaysia. The aim was to pressure the hospital administration, officials added.
The arrested RAB suspects are Shariful Alam Karim, Aminul Islam Kalu, Salauddin Bodi, Sazzad and Arifuzzaman. Several of them face multiple cases in different police stations.
Separately, Banani Police arrested two more suspects, Yousuf Ali and Nesar Ahmed, in connection with the case.
Investigators said the dispute involved two groups linked to “Rubel’s EM Traders” and “Monaem Group”. Rubel allegedly coordinated the attack from Malaysia, while local associates executed it for Tk20,000 using two to three hired attackers.
Ahmed Hossain sustained injuries to his hand and back after being attacked with sharp weapons.
He was first admitted to the National Cancer Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.
Following the incident, the hospital’s administrative officer filed a case with Banani Police Station against 8–10 unidentified people.
RAB said initial interrogation found no political link to the attack, confirming it stemmed from the tender dispute.
