Kafrul Swechchhasebak Dal leader hired hitmen to kill Jubo Dal rival: DB

A Kafrul Thana Swechchhasebak Dal leader allegedly hired a group of contract killers from Magura to assassinate a local Jubo Dal leader over a long-running turf war, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed today.

The allegation emerged during the investigation into Friday night's shooting in Kafrul, in which Jubo Dal activist Yusuf Ali was killed and two others were injured.

At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre, DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said Kafrul Thana Swechchhasebak Dal Joint Convener Hafizur Rahman, alias "CNG Hafiz", masterminded the alleged plot to kill Kafrul Thana Jubo Dal Member Secretary Hafizul Islam Babu.

According to the DB official, the dispute stemmed from a long-running conflict over the control of waste collection tenders, roadside shops, internet and cable businesses, and a property in the Kafrul area.

Shafiqul said Hafiz hired hitmen from Magura to eliminate his rival.

The briefing followed the arrest of seven people, including four alleged members of the hired killers.

The arrestees are Jihad Molla, 30; Ziarul Molla, 39; Masum Billah, 28; Nahid Hasan, 21; Abir Hawlader, 25; Ali Hossain, 22; and Chanchal Molla.

Police alleged that the suspects travelled to Dhaka to carry out the attack on Hafizul Islam Babu. During the shooting, however, Yusuf Ali was fatally shot while two others sustained bullet injuries.

Two cases -- one for murder and another under the Arms Act -- were filed with Kafrul Police Station. The murder case is now being investigated by the DB, Shafiqul said.