Another suspect arrested over murder of BNP leader in Adabar

Highlights:

• Parvez, second accused in case, arrested from Kishoreganj
• Total arrests in the murder case rise to nine
• RAB claims Parvez was the sole attacker who stabbed the BNP leader

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested another suspect in connection with the killing of BNP leader Abul Bashar Badsha following a dispute over watching a World Cup football match in the capital's Adabar area.

The arrestee has been identified as Parvez, 30, second accused in the murder case.

Speaking at a media briefing at RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar, RAB-2 Commanding Officer Additional DIG Naimul Hasan said he was arrested around 5am today (5 July) during a joint operation conducted by RAB-2 and RAB-14 in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila.

With Parvez's arrest, the total number of people detained in the case has risen to nine. Earlier, RAB arrested two suspects, while the police and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) arrested six others.

Naimul said two suspects arrested by RAB on 3 July - Md Sumon, 25, and Md Shahid, 59 - told investigators in their confessional statements that Parvez had stabbed Badsha. Acting on intelligence, RAB tracked down and arrested him.

"Parvez was the only person who stabbed the victim, while the other accused were involved in the assault but did not inflict knife wounds," he added.

However, RAB's account differs from an earlier statement made by DB Chief Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam, who said at a briefing on Friday (3 July) that another suspect, Ripon, had stabbed Badsha.

The DB also claimed to have recovered the swiss gear knife allegedly used in the killing based on information provided by Ripon.

Asked about the conflicting versions from the two law enforcement agencies, Naimul Hasan said Parvez had admitted to the stabbing during questioning by RAB, adding that the matter would ultimately be determined through the investigation and judicial process.

According to RAB, the incident stemmed from a clash on 29 June between supporters of Japan and Brazil during a World Cup match screening in the Nobodoy Housing area in Adabar.

The dispute involved Nobodoy Housing Unit BNP President Saddam Hossain and members of the Majnu-Shahid group. On 1 July, both sides met for arbitration, but the meeting failed to resolve the conflict.

RAB said members of the Majnu-Shahid group attacked Saddam Hossain during the meeting. Abul Bashar Badsha, general secretary of the Nobodoy Housing Unit BNP, intervened to protect him when Parvez allegedly attacked both men with a sharp weapon, leaving them critically injured.

Badsha was initially taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The victim's wife later filed a murder case with Adabar Police Station, naming eight accused and 10 to 15 unidentified individuals.