Has police negligence sent the wrong man to remand in Hadi shooting case?

A serious lapse in the investigation of the attempted assassination of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Osman Hadi has come to light, raising concerns over police procedures. 

Evidence now shows Abdul Hannan, arrested from Mohammadpur immediately after the attack on the allegation of owning the bike used in the shooting – a Suzuki Zixer (Dhaka Metro La-54-6375) – was taken into custody based on flawed assumptions. RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Intekhab Chowdhury confirmed the arrest to the media.

However, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police later revealed that the actual motorcycle used was a Honda Hornet (orange-silver, Dhaka Metro La-54-6574) disguised with a fake number plate (Dhaka Metro La-54-6376). Confusion over registration numbers led RAB to mistake Hannan's vehicle for the one used in the attack.

Photo: Collected

On 14 December, CTTC recovered the Honda Hornet, helmet, and fake plate from the Banalata residential area under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station at around 8:45am. The motorcycle was found in a building parking area, and the plate was retrieved from a nearby manhole. 

Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the recovery to The Business Standard. CCTV footage analysis showed the plate had been deliberately altered. Investigators traced the bike's ownership through eight previous owners, eventually linking it to Mainuddin Islam using the ID of Md Kabir, an associate of prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud. The items have been handed to the Detective Branch for further investigation.

Hannan has denied any involvement, saying he had sold the motorcycle to a second-hand showroom, but the ownership transfer was incomplete due to health issues. In court, he said: "When the police arrested me, I asked them to investigate thoroughly and take me to the showroom if needed. But they didn't." Reports indicate he was not provided a lawyer during the hearing.

Photo: TBS

Public Prosecutor (PP) Omar Faruk Faruqui and Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Shamsuddoha Sumon represented the state before the court. APP Sumon noted that registration records listed Hannan as the motorcycle's owner and went further, alleging involvement in previous incidents. While the state requested a seven-day remand, the court granted three days.

The conflicting accounts between RAB and CTTC have raised serious questions about investigative rigour. When approached, CTTC officials declined to comment, and calls to RAB Director Intekhab Chowdhury went unanswered. PP Faruqui said the court will act once the investigation report confirming the registration mismatch is submitted.