Despite Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) youth wing Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal expelling two of its leaders, police on Saturday stated that the murder of a scrap trader in Old Dhaka stemmed from a dispute over scrap business dealings and shop control—not extortion or any political influence.
Lal Chand alias Sohag, 39, was killed in front of Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka on Wednesday.
At a press briefing at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre, Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of Lalbagh Division, revealed that the killing was the result of a dispute over who would run a shop and disagreements tied to their joint scrap business operations.
"The political identity of the accused is not our primary concern. We are prioritising their involvement in the crime.
"We are seeing through different sources that the accused are being identified and linked to various political parties," he said, adding that the police have not yet found any credible evidence linking the suspects to any political party.
"We have interrogated the arrestees, but none of them have provided any clear information about political connections," the DC said.
"According to initial interrogations of the suspects, Sohag and those who killed him had been business partners. When conflicts emerged over financial transactions and control of the business, the dispute escalated, ultimately leading to the murder," said the DC.
Detailing the incident, Jasim said that around 6 pm on Wednesday, a group attacked Sohag with blunt objects and sharp weapons in front of Gate 3 of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital, killing him brutally on the spot.
Police from Kotwali station quickly arrived to take control of the situation. The next day, Sohag’s elder sister filed a murder case at Kotwali Police Station.
Police then collected CCTV footage from the scene and, on July 11, arrested two named accused—Mahmudul Hasan Mohin, 41, and Tarek Rahman Robin, 22—in different parts of the capital. Officers also recovered a foreign-made pistol from Robin. Meanwhile, RAB detained two more suspects, Alamgir, 28, and Monir alias Chhoto Monir, 25, in connection with the crime.
Late Friday night, Kotwali police arrested another accused named in the case, Md Titon Gazi, 32.
The Lalbagh DC added that a special team has been formed to uncover the full motive behind Sohag’s murder, track down all those involved, and bring them to justice.
“We are determined to solve this sensational case. Police operations are ongoing to arrest other suspects and ensure every angle of the crime is thoroughly investigated,” he added.
