Another ‘shooter’ arrested over killing of Swecchasebak Dal leader Muchabbir

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch has arrested another alleged shooter accused of killing Swechhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Muchabbir.

The suspect, identified as Rahim, was arrested in a raid in Narsingdi early on Friday, DB Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said.

“Our team is still conducting its operation and efforts are under way to recover the weapon used in the crime,” he said, adding that further details would be disclosed later.

Earlier, on January 11, the DB announced the arrests of four people, including one shooter, Jinat, in connection with the killing. Rahim, the other shooter, had been absconding since then, bdnews24.com reports.

Muchabbir was shot on January 7 at around 8:30 pm, when assailants riding motorcycles opened fire on him in an alley beside Hotel Super Star in Dhaka's West Tejturi Para.

Abu Sufian Bepari Masud, who was accompanying him, was also shot in the attack.

Muchabbir was the former general secretary of the Dhaka north unit of the Jatiotabadi Swecchasebak Dal and had previously served as a joint secretary of the organisation’s central committee.

Masud is the general secretary of the Van Workers’ Union under Tejgaon Thana.

Locals rescued the two men and took them to BRB Hospital, where the attending physician declared Muchabbir dead.

Masud was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Following the incident, Muchabbir’s wife Suraiya Begum filed a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station on Jan 8 against unnamed individuals.

On January 10, law enforcers conducted raids in several areas of Dhaka, Gazipur, Manikganj, Mymensingh and Netrokona.

During the operations, police arrested shooter Jinat, the alleged main planner Md Billal, Abdul Qadir -- accused of helping the suspects evade arrest -- and Md Riaz, who had surveyed the scene a day before the killing.

A motorcycle without a number plate, believed to have been used in the murder, and Tk 6,000 in cash were seized at the time.

On January 12, Jinat gave a confessional statement before a court. The same day, the court placed Riaz and his two brothers, Billal and Abdul Qadir, on remand for seven days.

After the remand period, investigators produced the accused before the court on Jan 19 and sought a further remand for Billal.

The court later granted him a three-day remand.

Billal was sent to jail on Thursday after completing his second remand, which lasted three days.

Later that night, the DB carried out a raid in Narsingdi and arrested Rahim, the second shooter in the case.