“I have been framed,” claims suspect arrested over brutal Mitford murder

Two suspects in the brutal murder of a scrap trader outside Old Dhaka’s Mitford Hospital - Tarek Rahman Robin and Titon Gazi - have denied any involvement in the shocking incident.

Robin, apprehended in a separate arms case, told the court he had been “framed", while Gazi insisted he neither attacked the victim nor ordered others to do so.

Following a two-day remand in the arms case, Robin agreed to provide a confessional statement, which was recorded by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullah Giyas on Saturday. The court subsequently ordered Robin to be sent to jail.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Robin said: “I am not involved in the murder. People all over Bangladesh know what I am actually guilty of.”

Robin further claimed that a firearm had been found in his possession and revealed that he was due to fly to Portugal in eight days, having spent Tk 2.2 million on preparations for the trip.

Denying any ties to those implicated in the killing, he added: “I’ve been framed. I wasn’t at the scene. They arrested me based on their suspicions. My life is ruined. My mother has fallen ill and has been diagnosed with diabetes. I have nothing more to say.”

The murder occurred on Wednesday afternoon near Gate No. 3 of Mitford Hospital, where Sohag, a scrap trader, was bludgeoned to death with a concrete block in broad daylight. A video of the savage attack quickly spread across social media, triggering widespread outrage nationwide.

Sohag’s elder sister filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station, while police also lodged a separate arms case.

To date, four suspects have been arrested by police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), including Mahmudul Hasan Mohin and Robin, both of whom were initially placed on remand. Following his remand, Robin provided his confessional statement in court.

BNP has expelled five members of its affiliate organisations Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal, for their alleged involvement in the incident.

During Titon Gazi’s remand hearing, he told the court, “I was just standing there. I went to the spot after receiving a phone call from someone named Monir. I didn’t know what was happening.”

The investigating officer, Inspector Nasir Uddin of Kotwali Police Station, sought a seven-day remand for Gazi. Prosecutor Kaiyum Hossain Nayan argued in favour of the remand, stating: “This incident was driven by a power struggle in the scrap trade”.

The officer added, “On Jul 9, around 5:45pm, Gazi and others assaulted Md Sohag outside Mitford Hospital. They beat him indiscriminately with sticks, helmets, bricks, and a concrete block, striking his head and body to ensure his death.

“They kicked the body and celebrated over it, as seen in the video that went viral on social media. This barbaric act has instilled fear in the public, prompting various organisations to protest and demand justice. The accused is directly involved.”

Titon was brought to the CMM courthouse around 2:30pm today. He was taken to the courtroom around 3:38pm and the judge entered the courtroom around 3:53 pm.

Prosecutor Nayan, representing the state, held a hearing in favour of granting permission for law enforcers to interrogate the suspect in custody.

He said, "The accused is a suspect. The murder took place in the Kotwali-Bangshal area due to a rivalry in the scrap metal business and extortion. Earlier, the victim was threatened with death if he did not pay the extortion fee. This murder is centred on the scrap metal business. I saw a video on social media of a brutal attack with bricks, rods, cement, and stones with the intention of killing… I heard about the era of Jahiliyyah in the past, and now I have seen it myself. I also saw footage of them dancing on the corpse. I petition for the maximum remand for him."

Then the judge called Titon, who was standing in the dock, to the front and asked if he had a lawyer.

Titon said that he did not.

When asked if he had any statement, Titon told the court: "Watch the video that has gone viral carefully. I did not inflict any injury or beat him. In the video, you will see that I am wearing a paste-coloured shirt. I had no role in this incident. I did not order anyone to be killed. I was just standing there."

Later, the court ordered Titon granted a five-day remand for questioning.

After the judge left the courtroom, Titon said that a person named Monir called him. After receiving the call, he went to the scene. However, Titon said that he did not know why the incident happened.