Farhad Murder Case: 2 suspects killed in 'gunfight'

Two suspects in Awami League leader Farhad Hossain murder case were killed in a “gunfight” between detectives and criminals in the capital's Badda area early yesterday.

Of the two, Nurul Islam took part in the shooting of Farhad, general secretary of Badda AL, on June 15. He was captured by CCTV cameras firing at a police checkpoint in Gulshan to escape arrest, police said.

The other dead man was identified as Amit. Police claimed he was among the murder plotters.  

Mashiur Rahman, deputy commissioner of the Detective Branch (North Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said the “gun battle” took place around 3:00am when several DB teams rushed to Shatarkul area on information that Farhad's killers gathered at an under-construction building there.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, criminals opened fire at the detectives, who retaliated in self-defence, leaving two of them injured.

The two were declared dead after police had rushed them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Nobody contacted police to claim the bodies till filing of the report at 10:00pm yesterday.

DB official Mashiur said a rivalry over sharing extortion money from auto-rickshaw stands, cattle markets and footpaths in Badda area led to the killing.

Farhad was shot dead in front of a lot of devotees as he came out of a mosque in the area after offering Juma prayers on June 15.

According to the DB official, seven armed people were stationed in the mosque area to carry out the murder and ensure the killers' safe escape.

Police said underground criminals Mehedi and Ashiq orchestrated the murder, tasking some of the shooters, paid on a monthly basis like employees of an organisation, with the job.

According to law enforcers, Mehedi and Ashiq, believed to be staying in the USA and India, used to run the criminal gang.

Mashiur said at least 14 people, including seven shooters, were involved in the killing. Some of them fled to a neighbouring county after planning the murder while a few others after the murder.

However, some of them have returned home recently to take control of the extortion spots in Badda, the DB official said.