CNG Hafiz hired shooters for Tk 25 lakh to kill Jubo Dal activist in Kafrul: DB Chief

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) has arrested seven individuals involved in the shooting death of Jubo Dal activist Md Yusuf in Kafrul. The DB said the incident was orchestrated by Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, also known as CNG Hafiz, joint convener of the Kafrul Thana Swayamsevak Dal. He hired shooters for Tk 25 lakh to kill Kafrul Thana Jubo Dal member secretary Hafizul Islam Babu.

Those arrested are: Nahid Hasan, Shafin Ahmed, Ziarul Molla, Ali Hossain, Jihad Molla, Masum Billah and Abir Hawlader.

DB chief Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam, at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Monday, said Hafiz had planned Babu's murder over a long-standing feud involving garbage tenders, footpath occupation and dominance in the area. However, Jubo Dal activist Yusuf was killed and two others injured in the firing.

The DB chief said eight people, including four shooters directly involved in the murder, have been arrested. Eleven people took part in the mission. Hafiz has been absconding since the incident. During questioning, the arrestees said CNG Hafiz had hired them to kill Jubo Dal leader Babu. An advance of Tk 50,000 was paid as part of the Tk 25 lakh contract. One shooter named Chanchal was arrested with a weapon on the day of the incident.

According to DB sources, on July 24 at around 11:15pm, several armed men opened fire at the head of Link Road on the south side of Opex Garments in Kafrul, injuring Jubo Dal activist Md Yusuf, vegetable seller Nalam Sardar and Monir Hossain. Locals rushed them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Yusuf dead. The injured are undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, locals caught a terrorist with a weapon while fleeing the scene and handed him over to Kafrul Police Station. Police recovered a foreign pistol and four rounds of ammunition from him. Yusuf's elder brother filed a murder case at Kafrul Police Station. The DB Mirpur division and Kafrul Police Station began investigations immediately.

On July 25, DB arrested Nahid Hasan and Shafin Ahmed from the Mirpur area. Based on their information, Ziarul was arrested from the Arapara area of Shalikha upazila in Magura, and Ali Hossain from Mirpur. Meanwhile, Kafrul Police Station arrested Jihad Molla from Shariatpur and Masum Billah from Bagarpada in Jashore. Abir Hawlader was handed over by locals after being beaten.

DB sources said the arrestees revealed during initial questioning that Hafiz had hired professional killers to eliminate his rival Hafizul Islam Babu. On June 29, the hired killers, including Hasan, Ziarul, Chanchal and Jihad, met with CNG Hafiz in Dhaka. They stayed at Room No. 714 of Baishakhi Hotel in Mirpur-10 and later gathered at CNG Hafiz's garage. Hafiz's manager Nahid brought two pistols to the garage through Abir Hawlader. A misfire occurred while Hafiz was loading the weapons, prompting a postponement. However, they later identified Babu's office and returned to their respective areas after receiving Tk 50,000 in advance.

On July 22, following Hafiz's orders, they returned to Dhaka and stayed at Room No. 608 of Sonali Hotel in Mirpur-2. On July 23 evening, they again gathered at Hafiz's garage, where Jihad handed two loaded pistols to Ziarul and Chanchal. Ziarul, Chanchal, Hasan, Jihad, Masum Billah and others then positioned themselves in front of Babu's office. Hafiz's employee Shafin and Ziarul's relative Ali Hossain conducted reconnaissance, helped the assailants escape and provided regular updates on police activity.

According to DB, on the night of the incident, Babu was standing with leaders and activists in front of his office when he noticed strangers and asked for their identities. When he attempted to search them, one of the accused pulled out a pistol and opened fire, fatally shooting Yusuf in the chest.