Two suspects arrested over the murder of Rangpur trader Ashraful Haque, whose dismembered body was recovered from two plastic drums near the High Court on Thursday, have given conflicting statements, law enforcement officials have said.

Rab arrested Shamima Akhter Kohinur from Cumilla yesterday, while Detective Branch detained Jarezul Islam from Daudkandi upazila.

Based on interrogations, Rab and DB held separate press conferences today to share details of the murder.

Addressing a press briefing at Karwan Bazar Media Centre, Rab-3 CO Lt Col Fayezul Arefin said Ashraful was killed in a scheme of blackmail and extortion involving Tk 10 lakh.

He said Shamima had been in a relationship with Jarezul for over a year. Rab claimed that Jarezul had planned to honey trap one of his friends, record compromising footage, and extort money.

As a part of the plan, Shamima developed a romantic relationship with Ashraful, the Rab official said.

"On November 11, Jarezul and Ashraful travelled from Rangpur to Dhaka and met Shamima. They later rented a flat in Shonir Akhra," Lt Col Arefin said.

Rab said Ashraful was given orange juice mixed with sleeping pills. Jarezul then recorded intimate moments between Ashraful and Shamima. Investigators recovered the video from Shamima's mobile phone.

According to Rab, on November 12, when Ashraful became fully unconscious, Jarezul, under the influence yaba, tied him with rope, taped his mouth and struck him repeatedly with a hammer killing him.

The following morning, the suspects bought two plastic drums, dismembered the body, and dumped the drums near the High Court area, he added.

At a separate press briefing two hours later, DB chief Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said the murder stemmed from a love triangle, not extortion.

He said Malaysia expatriate Jarezul met Shamima more than three years ago on a mobile app. They developed a romantic relationship, but when Jarezul's wife learned of the affair, she sought help from Jarezul's close friend Ashraful. Ashraful then reportedly became romantically involved with Shamima himself.

Later, Ashraful and Shamima planned that they would give Tk 7 lakh each to send Jarezul to Japan. Following this deal, Shamima asked both men to come from Rangpur to Dhaka to begin the payment and visa process. On November 12, the three rented a house for Tk 5,000.

Shamima and Jarezul initially planned to give Ashraful sleeping pills so they could spend intimate time together. But when Ashraful refused to take the pill and attempted to get close to Shamima, an argument broke out.

At one point, Jarezul attacked Ashraful with a hammer.

They gagged him with cloth and tape, causing his death.The next day, the suspects bought a plastic drum, dismembered the body, wrapped it in polythene, and dumped it near the High Court in a CNG auto-rickshaw.

Investigators later recovered a hammer, a machete, and a blood-stained scarf from Shamima's house based on Jarezul's confession.

DB's Shafiqul said no evidence of drug use or extortion had been found during the initial investigation.