Tipu-Preety murder: Five more arrested, pistol, motorbike seized

Five more suspects have been arrested in connection with the double murder of Awami League leader Md Zahidul Islam Tipu and college student Samia Afran Jamal Preety at Shahjahanpur in the capital.

The arrested were Shamim Hossain alias Molla Shamim, Toufique Hasan alias Babu, Sumon Hossain alias Sumon, Ehtesham Uddin Chowdhury alias Apu and Shariful Islam alias Ridoy.

They were arrested conducting raids at Benapole area in Jashore and different places in Dhaka on Monday (August 15). With them, 27 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the sensational murders.

Addressing a press conference at the DMP’s Media Centre in the capital on Tuesday, DB chief and additional commissioner Harun ar Rashid said the DB personnel arrested Molla Shamim, one of the killers who took part in the murders directly. Besides, arms, bullets and motorcycles used in the murders were seized conducting raids at different places.

Awami League leader Zahidul Islam Tipu was killed over establishing supremacy in several illegal trades in the Motijheel area, according to Rapid Action Battalion.

The mastermind of the murder was Omar Farooq, general secretary of Awami League’s Ward-10 unit of Dhaka South City Corporation, said Rab spokesperson Commander Khandaker Al-Moin earlier, adding that the whole killing mission was monitored from Dubai.

The murder contract was fixed at TK 15 lakh, most of which was provided by Omar Farooq, said the Rab official.

There was a long-standing dispute between the four and Tipu regarding extortion, tender, school-college admission trade, and market control in the Motijheel area, the Rab official said. Tipu was murdered due to these disputes.