3 arrested over murder of Bangladeshi-born British citizen

Police arrested three in separate raids in Khulna district and the city's Mohammadpur areas yesterday (29 November) in connection with the murder of Bangladeshi-born British citizen Dr AKM Abdur Rashid.

The arrestees have been identified as Md Naeem Khan, 22, Md Zahidur Rahman Rifat, 20 and Md Abu Taher Sikder alias Shaon, 22.

Hazaribagh police arrested the trio in separate raids in the Dumuria area of Khulna and Mohammadpur area of Dhaka, said Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of Police, Ramna Division, in a press briefing held at the DMP media centre in the capital today (30 November).

He said police also seized a sharp knife used in the murder following information extracted from the detained Md Naeem Khan. 

How Abdur Rashid was killed

The victim of the incident, Dr AKM Abdur Rashid, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin, lived in the UK most of the year. He used to come to Bangladesh occasionally.

Three to four unknown assailants entered the house of Dr Rashid, located on West Dhanmondi under Hazaribagh Police Station, around 2:30am on 15 November.

After entering, the assailants scuffled with Dr Rashid. When his wife, Sufia Rashid, tried to come forward from the next room, one of the assailants blocked her.

At one stage, the assailants stabbed Dr Rashid in the chest several times with a sharp knife. He was seriously injured.

The assailants later ran away after his wife screamed for help.

Critically injured, Dr Rashid was rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in a bloody state, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

The victim's cousin, Md Rezaul Karim, filed a murder case with Hazaribagh Police Station on the day of the murder.

CCTV footage used to apprehend suspects

During the investigation into the case, the criminals involved in the murder were identified by analysing the CCTV camera footage around the scene, information collected from the victim's tenants and intelligence information.

Naeem Khan and Zahidur Rahman Rifat were arrested yesterday from the Shahpur Bazar area of Khulna's Dumuria.

Another team from the Hazaribagh Police Station conducted a raid in the Mohammadpur area of the capital at 03:30am and arrested Abu Taher Sikder, alias Shaon.

Naeem Khan and Zahidur, who lived as tenants in a flat of the victim's house, said they had disputes over the outstanding rent with the victim's wife.

Naeem Khan and Zahidur Rahman Rifat planned to enter Dr Rashid's house and steal money to start a restaurant business.

As per the plan, on 15 November, they entered the house with Abu Taher Sikder alias Shaon by climbing over the boundary wall of the victim's house to loot money.

At that time, the victim, Dr Rashid, felt the presence of the arrested criminals when he got up to offer Tahajjud prayers.

When Dr Rashid tried to stop them, the arrestees scuffled with him.

At one point, the assailants stabbed him critically with a sharp knife and fled the scene.