Mitford killing: Suspect confesses in court, another remanded

Tarek Rahman Robin, a suspect in the grisly murder of a scrap trader outside Old Dhaka's Mitford Hospital, has given a confessional statement in court.

Another suspect, Titon Gazi, has been placed on a five-day remand for interrogation.

On Saturday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullah Giyas recorded Robin’s confessional statement following a request from the investigating officer Md Monir of Kotwali Police Station. The court then ordered Robin to be sent to jail.

The magistrate also approved the remand for Gazi.

Sub-Inspector Tanvir Morshed Chowdhury from the prosecution police confirmed the development.

After the court issued a two-day remand order, Robin agreed to give a confessional statement, prompting the investigating officer to request its recording. Robin is also an accused in a separate arms case filed by police in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Inspector Nasir Uddin of Kotwali Police Station sought a seven-day remand for Gazi.

On Wednesday, Md Sohag alias Lal Chand, a scrap and used wire trader, was bludgeoned to death with a concrete boulder near Gate No. 3 of Mitford Hospital. A video of the killing quickly spread across social media, sparking nationwide outrage.

Sohag’s elder sister later filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station. Police also filed a separate case under the Arms Act.

Police and the RAB have so far arrested four people in connection with the killing. Two of them, Mahmudul Hasan Mohin and Robin, were placed on remand for interrogation. Of the two, Robin has now confessed in court.

In the wake of the killing, the BNP expelled five members of its affiliated organisations Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Meanwhile, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury called the murder "horrific” and said five people had been apprehended by law-enforcing agencies.

According to police and locals, those involved in the killing, as well as those suspected to be behind it, were all known to the victim. Some had even been Sohag’s former business associates. People familiar with them said they could never have imagined such a horrific killing arising from a business dispute.

A local electrical goods trader said a powerful syndicate controls the used wire trade in the area, and Sohag had been in charge of it. Mohin and his associates were reportedly trying to seize control of the syndicate.

“They even locked Sohag’s warehouse as part of that effort. There were several meetings over the dispute. Some of those involved are linked to local Jubo Dal politics. Sohag himself was once involved with Jubo Dal,” the trader added.