4 identified from CCTV footage in Jubo Dal leader murder in Raozan; no case filed yet

Police have identified four people from CCTV footage in connection with the killing of a Jubo Dal leader in Raozan, but a casae has yet to be filed in this connection. 

Raozan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saiful Islam told The Business Standard today (14 June) that six people took part in the killing of Rangunia upazila Jubo Dal Senior Joint Convener Maksudul Haque Chowdhury, 45, who was shot dead in broad daylight.

Police analysed CCTV footage from the scene and identified four of the killers, he said.

"However, their names and identities cannot be disclosed for the sake of the investigation. The body will be handed over to the family after the autopsy. No case has been filed yet, but we hope the family will file a case after the burial," Saiful added.

The murder took place at around 1:30pm yesterday on a busy road at Pahartali Bazar in Raozan.

Maksudul was from Betagi union in the neighbouring Rangunia upazila. 

He was known as a close follower and worker of Rangunia lawmaker Humam Quader Chowdhury.

After the killing, photos of the attackers walking away with firearms and CCTV footage of the incident spread on social media and quickly went viral.

CCTV footage shows that Maksudul was standing in front of a pharmacy at Pahartali Bazar in the afternoon. 

At one stage, a CNG-run autorickshaw stopped nearby and four youths quickly got out. Two of them were seen carrying firearms.

Police said two more accomplices had been waiting in the market before and the six attackers surrounded Maksudul.

The footage showed the attackers firing at Maksudul from close range before fleeing the scene in the waiting autorickshaw.

The killing sparked anger among the BNP and its associate bodies' leaders and activists, as well as local residents in Rangunia and Raozan. 

Soon after the incident, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal activists held demonstrations in Pahartali and Rangunia's Ichakhali area.

They blocked the Chattogram-Kaptai road by burning tyres and placing barricades, demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the killing.

The blockade halted traffic on the Kaptai road, causing long tailbacks on both sides and severe suffering for passengers.

At about 3pm, Chattogram Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Masud Alam went to the spot with a large number of police personnel to bring the situation under control. 

He spoke to the protesters and assured them that the killers would be brought to justice quickly after reviewing the CCTV footage.

Following the SP's assurance, the protesters left the road around 4:15pm and traffic movement on the Kaptai road returned to normal.

Speaking to reporters, Masud said, "We have collected CCTV footage from the scene and surrounding areas. We are looking into who committed the crime, for what motive, and whether any political or personal dispute was behind it. 

"Several police teams are working in the field, and we hope to arrest all those involved within a very short time."