AL leader killed over financial dispute in Sitakunda; suspect arrested

An Awami League leader was hacked to death in Chattogram's Sitakunda upazila over a dispute involving unpaid money, while one of the accused, Sohail, 26, has been arrested.

The arrest was made by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-7 yesterday evening (14 April) from the Rangunia area.

The deceased, Jahangir Alam Shamim, was a resident of South Shibpur village in Sitakunda.

RAB said Shamim had prior acquaintance with the accused, and there had been an ongoing dispute over financial transactions between them, which had led to several altercations and physical confrontations.

On 8 April at around 11pm, Shamim was called to a location near Habib Road in the Madhyam Bhaterkhil area on the pretext of returning the owed money.

Upon arrival, he was attacked in a premeditated manner with sharp weapons and critically injured. The attackers hacked him indiscriminately and severed the tendons in his legs to ensure his death before fleeing the scene.

Following the incident, the victim's wife filed a murder case with Sitakunda Police Station, naming 10 individuals and several others unidentified.

RAB-7 launched intelligence surveillance and a shadow investigation to apprehend those involved. Acting on a tip-off, a team conducted a drive in the Lichu Bagan area of Rangunia on Tuesday evening and arrested Sohail.

He has been handed over to Sitakunda Police Station, RAB said.