Another accused confesses to role in killing of Adabar BNP leader

Highlights:

• Another accused gives confessional statement in Adabar BNP leader murder case
• Six accused have now confessed before court over the killing
• RAB arrested the latest accused from Kishoreganj
• Police say the attack stemmed from a dispute following a football match

Another accused has given a confessional statement before a Dhaka court in the murder case over the killing of BNP leader Abul Bashar Badsha in the capital's Adabar area.

Confirming the development, Prosecution Department Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman stated that the accused, Parvez, was produced before the court today (6 July) by the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Hafizur Rahman of Adabar Police Station.

After expressing his willingness to confess, the investigating officer sought permission to record his statement. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Monirul Islam later recorded the confession and later sent Parvez to jail, he said.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Parvez from Kishoreganj Sadar upazila early today.

Earlier, on 4 July, five other accused - Nirab, Ripon, Suman Mia, Majnu Mia and Shahid - also gave confessional statements before a court and were subsequently sent to jail. Three other accused in the case have also been remanded.

According to the case statement, the incident originated from an altercation following Brazil's victory in a Fifa World Cup football match on the night of 29 June.

Police said one of the accused, Nirab, repeatedly blew a whistle in celebration after the match, prompting objections from local resident Habibur Rahman, who reportedly has a heart condition.

Although neighbours initially resolved the dispute, tensions continued.

The following day, Habibur's nephew, Saddam Hossain, invited the accused to his office in Nobodoy Housing, Mohammadpur, in an attempt to settle the matter.

Police alleged that three of the accused intercepted Saddam on 30 June, attempted to rob him and attacked him with sharp weapons after recognising him as Habibur's nephew.

Local residents later arranged a community mediation meeting at a shop in the Nobodoy Housing kacha bazaar area.

According to the complaint, the accused became aggrieved over the mediation and lay in wait near the Nobodoy four-road intersection on the evening of 1 July.

At around 8:30pm, as Saddam Hossain and Abul Bashar Badsha were leaving the meeting, the accused allegedly attacked them with machetes and other sharp weapons, leaving both critically injured.

The victims were initially taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. Badsha was later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at around 11:30pm.

Saddam Hossain is currently undergoing treatment at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.

Badsha's wife, Smriti Akter, later filed a murder case with Adabar Police Station over the incident.