Pallabi Jubo Dal leader murder: 2 suspected shooters arrested while preparing to flee abroad

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion arrested two shooters suspected to be involved in the killing of Pallabi Jubo Dal leader Golam Kibria in the capital last night (26 March), as they were preparing documents to flee abroad.

The arrested are Md Rashed alias Lopen, 35, and Md Jahangir Hossain alias Kallu, 40. A revolver and ammunition used in the murder were recovered from their possession.

At a briefing today at the RAB-4 headquarters in Mirpur, Company Commander Md Shahabuddin Kabir said the two had been on the run since the killing.

"They initially tried to escape the country through illegal border crossings but failed due to tightened security. Later, they returned to Dhaka and began preparing passports and visas to leave through legal channels," he said.

Acting on intelligence, RAB conducted operations late last night, arresting Rashed in the Rupnagar Eastern Housing area in Mirpur and Jahangir in Diabari in Uttara Sector 18.

Based on information provided by Rashed, law enforcement recovered a foreign-made revolver and three rounds of live bullets from his residence. 

Officials said the weapon originally contained six rounds, but the suspect admitted firing two shots at the victim and one blank round to disperse nearby people.

RAB officials said the suspects have confessed to their direct involvement in the killing. 

According to investigators, a total of six to seven individuals were involved in the operation, including three shooters. 

One shooter, identified as Johnny, had already been arrested earlier.

Others involved included individuals responsible for supplying weapons, ensuring security, and monitoring the victim's movements prior to the attack.

Regarding the motive, RAB's Shahabuddin Kabir said the murder was primarily driven by political rivalry and control over local businesses and extortion networks.

Investigators found that the suspects had links with Moshiur Rahman Moshi, described as a top local criminal figure in Mirpur. 

Golam Kibria, member secretary of Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal, was seen as an obstacle to illegal activities, including extortion and control over housing and business operations.

The killing took place on 17 November last year, when assailants opened fire on Golam Kibria at a hardware shop in Mirpur-12, shooting him in the chest and back. 

During their escape, the attackers also opened fire on bystanders, leaving a rickshaw driver seriously injured.

One of the shooters was captured by locals at the scene and turned over to the police. 

The victim's family later filed a murder case at Pallabi Police Station.

RAB-4 had earlier arrested two other accused—Monir Hossain, also known as Sohel or Pata Sohel, and Sujon, also known as Bookpora Sujon—on 18 November in the case.