Four arrested over journalist Tuhin murder in Gazipur

Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) has arrested four suspects, including a woman, in connection with the brutal murder of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur's Chandna Chowrasta area on Thursday.

Confirming the matter around 11:30pm Friday, GMP Additional Commissioner (Crime) Taherul Haque Chowhan told TBS that their identities were confirmed after reviewing CCTV footage of the incident.

Three of those arrested were among the men seen in the footage wielding machetes, knives, and cleavers, he said.

Among the arrestees is Golapi, the woman seen at the beginning of the video — the same woman over whom the attack reportedly took place.

Another suspect, Faisal alias Ketu Mizan, was seen in the footage running with a machete (bearded, wearing a cap).

The third, Shadhin, was wearing a white shirt and jeans and was seen holding a machete.

The fourth suspect is Al Amin. Faisal, alias Ketu Mizan and Golapi are husband and wife.

They were arrested from Salna in Gazipur Sadar and Dhaka's Turag police station area under the DMP on Friday, said Taherul Haque.

"Our operation is ongoing, and it is hoped that all those involved will be arrested soon," the GMP additional commissioner added.

Basan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahin Khan said two cases have been filed, one by the victim's elder brother, Md Selim, and the other by the brother of Badsha Mia, who was injured in a separate attack shortly before Tuhin's killing.

Earlier, Gazipur police detained five people over the murder.

Shahin Khan said the five detainees are being questioned, and if their involvement is confirmed, they will be formally arrested.

A police source, requesting anonymity, said all those arrested so far are muggers. They are reportedly involved in various local crimes, including mugging.

Asaduzzaman Tuhin, 38, was the Gazipur staff reporter for Dainik Protidiner Kagoj. Originally from Mymensingh's Fulbaria upazila, he lived in Gazipur city with his wife, Farida Akhter and their two sons.

According to police and witnesses, the incident occurred on Thursday near Tuhin's office at Masjid Market.

A person named Badsha Mia had been attacked with sharp weapons by a group following an altercation involving a woman. Tuhin, who witnessed the attack, began filming on his phone.

The assailants noticed, chased him into a nearby tea shop, and hacked him to death before fleeing. While the chase was captured in CCTV footage nearby, the hacking was not.

Police later recovered Tuhin's body and sent it to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Gazipur Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (North Crime) Rabiul Islam said, "Preliminary evidence suggests Tuhin was killed for recording the incident. We have identified the assailants through CCTV and intelligence, but their names will not be disclosed for now. A manhunt is underway."

Badsha, who is receiving hospital treatment, claimed the woman was part of a gang that had stolen Tk30,000 from him.

Local sources allege the attackers are known criminals, including Faisal alias "Ketu Mizan", and others named Shah Jamal, Bullet, and Sujon.

Eyewitness and colleague Shamim Hossain said Tuhin had called him shortly before the incident.

"A man and a woman got into a fight near the Mosque Market. A group attacked the man with sharp weapons. Tuhin started filming, but the attackers noticed and chased him into a tea stall, where they killed him," he said.

Tuhin laid to rest, public demand justice

The post-mortem examination of Tuhin's body was completed at Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital yesterday morning.

Later in the day, after the Jummah prayer, his funeral was held at the Eidgah ground in the Chandna Chowrasta area of Gazipur city, where he was killed.

Locals staged a protest in the Chandana area on Thursday night, demanding justice for Tuhin.

Members of the Gazipur Journalist Union also staged a protest yesterday, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

Gazipur BNP General Secretary M Manjurul Karim Rony condemned the killing and urged a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, another journalist was attacked with bricks near the Joydebpur railway line yesterday, where a fruit market has allegedly been set up on illegally occupied railway land. One person has been arrested over that attack.