RAB arrests 2 over Gulshan public shooting

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two individuals, including the main suspect, in connection with the public shooting murder of Sumon in front of Police Plaza, Gulshan.

The arrested individuals are Md Wasir Mahmud Sayed, also known as Boro Sayed, 59, and Mamun, also known as Belal, 42. They were detained last night (25 March) from Patuakhali and Dhaka.

Sumon, a TV cable service provider from the Mohakhali area, was shot dead in public on 20 March. Law enforcement initially suspected the murder was linked to internal gang conflicts involving criminal networks.

According to RAB, Sayed and another individual named Mehdi had been extorting money in the Gulshan and Badda areas for several years. After the fall of the government on 5 August, Mehdi fled but continued collecting extortion money through Sayed.

However, Sumon later began extorting money in the same area on behalf of another group, known as the Robin group, leading to a conflict between the two factions.

RAB stated that Sayed planned Sumon's murder on Mehdi's orders. He, along with Belal and four to five other members of their group, began monitoring Sumon daily.

On the evening of 20 March, Sayed and others met at his house, armed themselves, and went to Gulshan in search of Sumon.

Around 9pm, they spotted Sumon sitting in front of Police Plaza, near Shahid Dr Fazle Rabbi Park, and shot him. When Sumon attempted to flee, he was shot multiple times before the attackers escaped.

A case was filed at Gulshan Police Station against unidentified individuals following the incident.

Based on confidential information, RAB-1, with assistance from RAB-8, arrested Sayed in Patuakhali on 25 March. Later that night, acting on Sayed's information, RAB-1 detained Belal from the Tongi East Police Station area.

RAB-1 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Zahidul Karim confirmed the arrests and stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the weapons used in the attack.