Honeytrap setup led to journalist Tuhin’s killing, says GMP Commissioner

The brutal killing of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur was preceded by a premeditated honeytrap incident, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Dr. Nazmul Karim Khan revealed on Saturday (August 9).

Speaking at a press briefing, the GMP chief stated that the sequence of events began when a man named Badsha withdrew Tk 25,000 from an ATM. Soon after, a woman identified as Parul Akhter alias Golapi began harassing him as part of a honeytrap setup. A physical altercation followed, during which Badsha punched the woman, prompting her associates to attack him with sharp weapons. As Badsha tried to escape, a group of armed assailants chased him.

Journalist Tuhin, present at the scene, began filming the incident on his mobile phone. Upon noticing this, the attackers demanded he delete the footage. When he refused, they fatally attacked him with sharp weapons.

“This was a planned act of violence,” said Commissioner Nazmul Karim. “The use of a honeytrap was a tactic to set the stage for the assault. Tuhin became a target only because he recorded the scene.”

Police have identified eight suspects from CCTV and video footage. Seven of them have been arrested—six by GMP and one by RAB. The remaining suspect is still at large. All those arrested are known criminals, with one of the key accused, Ketu Mizan, facing 15 previous cases across different police stations.

Commissioner Karim also highlighted the challenges faced by the police force in Gazipur, citing severe manpower shortages in managing law and order across the expansive city corporation. He called on citizens to actively support law enforcement efforts.

Senior GMP officials, including Additional Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Hasan and Deputy Commissioners Md. Zahid Hossain Bhuiyan, Md. Rabiul Hasan, SM Ashraful Alam, and SM Shafiqul Islam, were also present at the briefing.

At a separate press conference held this morning at the RAB camp in Porabari, Gazipur, Company Commander Superintendent of Police KM A Mamun Khan Chishti stated that the arrested mugger, Md. Swadhin, confessed to killing Asaduzzaman Tuhin. He added that Tuhin was intentionally targeted for murder; otherwise, they would not have used sharp weapons to ensure his death.

KMA Mamun Khan Chishti said, “A female member of the gang was harassing a man named Badsha, so Badsha hit her. After this incident, other members of the gang started chasing Badsha with knives. Tuhin was filming the incident on video. When the gang members noticed him recording, they attacked him.

The arrested Md. Swadhin is the son of Nur Mohammad from Faridpur upazila in Pabna and currently lives as a tenant of Mohammad Ali in Nogpara.”