United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested the prime suspect and uncovered the motives behind the gruesome murder of Ashraful Haque, whose dismembered body was found inside two plastic drums near the High Court adjacent to the National Eidgah on Thursday in the capital. The arrested suspect has been identified as Mohammad Zarezul Islam, 39, according to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. DB officials said Ashraful Haque, 44, was a trader of onion and garlic at Hili land port in Dinajpur. On the night of November 11, Ashraful travelled from Rangpur to Dhaka with his friend Zarezul. After reaching Dhaka, Ashraful’s mobile phone was found switched off. On the evening of November 13, Shahbagh Police recovered 26 pieces of a dismembered body from two drums placed near the gate of the National Eidgah. Fingerprint analysis confirmed the identity of the victim, and his sister later identified the body at the morgue. A murder case was subsequently filed with Shahbagh Police Station. Following the incident, the DB launched a shadow investigation. Through CCTV footage analysis and technological tracking, investigators identified the movements of those involved. On Friday, November 14, DB personnel conducted a raid in Daudkandi of Cumilla and arrested Zarezul. Based on his information, a machete used in the killing was recovered from Sayedabad bus terminal, along with scotch tape and a hammer from a rented house. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Saturday noon, Additional Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Shafiqul Islam stated that Zarezul, a Malaysia expatriate, had returned home about one and a half months ago. While abroad, he developed a relationship via the Bigo Live app with a woman named Shamima Islam from Cumilla. After Zarezul returned home, his wife discovered the affair, leading to marital tensions. She then sought help from Ashraful, giving him Shamima’s number in an attempt to dissuade Zarezul from the relationship. Instead, Ashraful himself became involved with Shamima. Trusted friend turns killer: How Jarez orchestrated trader Ashraful’s murder According to preliminary findings, Ashraful had promised to arrange Tk 14 lakh to send his friend Zarezul to Japan, of which Shamima was supposed to contribute Tk 7 lakh. In anticipation of the money and to meet in private, they travelled to Dhaka. They rented a house in Bank Colony under Demra Police Station on the afternoon of November 12, cleaned the residence together, and purchased basic household items including a mattress, pillows, and curtains. Police said the three engaged in physical relations mutually, but an altercation broke out when Ashraful insisted on unnatural acts with Shamima, which she refused. As she began crying, Zarezul became angry. Shamima then tied Ashraful’s hands under the pretext of the act. When Ashraful persisted, Zarezul struck him with a hammer. As Ashraful screamed, Shamima tied him with her scarf and scotch tape. Ashraful died from the assault and suffocation. Panicked after the killing, the duo stayed in the house with the body throughout the night. The next morning, they bought two plastic drums, polythene sheets, and a machete from local shops. In the bathroom, with the water tap running, Zarezul dismembered the body while Shamima assisted. They packed the remains into the drums and later hired a CNG-run autorickshaw. On November 13, they abandoned the drums on the footpath near the High Court water pump on the National Eidgah and quickly returned home. After collecting their belongings, Shamima left for Cumilla, while Zarezul initially planned to head to Rangpur but later travelled to a friend’s house in Cumilla, where DB personnel arrested him. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and legal action against those involved is underway. Meanwhile, RAB earlier said at a press briefing on Saturday morning that after the arrest of Zarezul’s girlfriend, Shamima Akhter, it was learned that Zarezul had planned to extort Tk 1 million from Ashraful by using her to lure him into a trap. Shamima told RAB that, under that plan, Ashraful was brought to Dhaka. However, it still remains unclear why he was killed instead of extracting the money. Read more: ‘Extramarital affair’ led to trader Ashraful’s murder: DB, RAB

Rangpur trader Ashraful Haque was allegedly lured to his death by his friend Jarez, who then killed and dismembered him in a planned manner, said Lt Col Fayezul Arefin, commanding officer of RAB-3. “The brutal killing was the result of a calculated plot carried out under the guise of friendship,” he told a press briefing in the capital’s Karwan Bazar after the interrogation of Jarez and his girlfriend Shamima following their arrest in connection with Ashraful’s murder. Following Jarez’s instructions, Shamima lured Ashraful into a romantic trap through phone communication over a month ago and brought him from Rangpur to Dhaka. The CO of Rab-3 said the trio met on November 12 at a rented house in Nurpur area of Shanir Akhra where Shamima mixed sleeping pills into a drink, leaving Ashraful unconscious. Jarez then recorded intimate footage of Shamima and Ashraful as part of an extortion plan. Once Ashraful was fully incapacitated, Jarez tied his hands, sealed his mouth with tape and struck him repeatedly with a hammer, killing him through the blows and suffocation, said the RAB official. The Rab Commander said the body was left in the room overnight while Jarez and Shamima stayed there. The following day, Thursday, they purchased a machete and dismembered Ashraful’s body into 26 pieces, stuffing the remains into two drums, said the RAB official. They later transported the drums by CNG-run auto-rickshaw and abandoned them under a large tree near the High Court’s National Eidgah water pump area before fleeing. During questioning, Shamima claimed she tried to stop the killing but she was assaulted by Jarez. Read more: ‘Extramarital affair’ led to trader Ashraful’s murder: DB, RAB She also said Jarez had planned to flee the country to Malaysia and arrangements for a passport were underway for Jarez. Shamima told RAB that they had planned to extort Tk 10 lakh from Ashraful using the intimate video. Based on Shamima’s information, RAB recovered bloodstained clothing, ropes, tape and other items used in the murder from the Nurpur area of Shanir Akhra. Lt Col Arefin said although the suspects cited extortion as the motive, “the level of brutality suggests there may be more behind the crime and further interrogation of Jarez would clarify the real motive.” Ashraful Haque’s dismembered body was found stuffed into two drums and dumped beside the National Eidgah ground on Thursday.  Read more: Woman’s throat-slit body found in Gazipur; husband critically injured