Swechhasebak Dal leader shot in Dhaka’s Mirpur, suspect remanded
Police said the shooting stemmed from previous enmity.
A Dhaka court has placed the prime suspect in the shooting of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Saiful Islam Siju on a four-day remand to facilitate further investigation into the attack in the capital's Mirpur-10 area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibuzzaman passed the order today (8 July) after police sought a seven-day remand for the accused, Kawsar Bhuiyan, alias Shanto.
The information was confirmed by prosecution Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Investigating officer Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Rakibul Islam of Mirpur Model Police Station told the court that custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the motive behind the attack, identify and arrest other accused named in the case, recover additional firearms and conduct raids at different locations.
According to the remand petition, police require further questioning of the suspect to reveal the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and trace other individuals allegedly involved.
Shanto was arrested during a special drive last night.
Police said they recovered a foreign-made pistol, four spent cartridges, two live rounds of ammunition and a shell casing from his possession during the operation.
According to the case statement, Saiful Islam Siju was sitting at a tea stall in Mirpur-10 when he was targeted in the shooting. He sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. A case was subsequently filed under the Arms Act with Mirpur Police Station.
The shooting took place at around 9:30pm yesterday in front of house no. 96 near Chowrangi Market in Mirpur-10. Siju, joint convener of Mirpur Thana Swechchhasebak Dal, was allegedly shot four times by an assailant.
Preliminary investigation suggests the attack was linked to a long-standing dispute over local influence and previous enmity.
Police said the suspect had allegedly cultivated a close relationship with Siju by expressing interest in joining political activities to gain his trust and monitor his movements before carrying out the planned attack.
