11 arrested over Islami Jubo Andolan leader’s murder in Narayanganj
Islami Andolan activists took to the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in the Madanpur area around 10am today, setting tyres on fire and blocking traffic.
Police have arrested 11 people, including alleged gang leader Sheikh Sifat, over the murder of Islami Jubo Andolan leader Zahid Hasan Bulbul in Narayanganj's Bandar on Thursday night.
Bulbul, 40, joint general secretary of the Jubo Andolan's Bandar thana unit, was attacked with sharp weapons in the Salehnagar area around 10pm.
He was taken to Narayanganj Victoria General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
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The arrested suspects are Sifat, Jumman, Mahafuz, Riyad, Siam, Ifran, Jisan, Minara, Nasima, Ruma and Yasmin, according to police.
Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Munshi confirmed the arrests at a press conference yesterday afternoon.
The SP said Bulbul had earlier been attacked over his participation in the July uprising in 2024.
"On 25 July 2024, Sifat and his associates attacked and looted Bulbul's garage because he had taken part in the movement," he said.
After 5 August, Bulbul filed a case with Bandar Police Station naming Sifat as the prime accused, the SP said.
Sifat allegedly went into hiding before returning to the area and repeatedly pressuring Bulbul to withdraw the case.
On Thursday night, Sifat allegedly threatened Bulbul again after seeing him in Salehnagar. An argument followed, after which Sifat and his associates allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons.
The SP said Sifat has several previous cases filed with Bandar Police Station, including murder and snatching.
"Eleven people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the killing. Interrogation and investigation are continuing to determine whether anyone else was involved," he said.
Following the killing, leaders and activists of Islami Andolan Bangladesh set fire to tyres and staged protests in Bandar on Thursday night.
They later blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Madanpur for nearly an hour yesterday morning, demanding justice for Bulbul. They withdrew the blockade following a police request.
