JNU student murder: Interrogation reveals love affair as motive

A sensational revelation has surfaced in the murder of Jagannath University student and Chhatra Dal leader Jobaid Hossain, with police confirming that the incident stemmed from a love affair.

During initial interrogation, the accused student, Barjis Shabnam Barsha, told investigators that Jobaid was killed due to a romantic conflict involving her former boyfriend, Mahir Rahman. She, however, denied having any role in the planning or execution of the murder.

Bongshal Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam told reporters on Monday morning, October 20, that Barsha and Mahir had been in a nine-year relationship and grew up as neighbours. However, their relationship ended recently.

According to the OC, Barsha had told Mahir that she liked Jobaid, although she never expressed it directly to Jobaid himself. Enraged and jealous, Mahir, along with one of his friends, killed Jobaid.

Police stated that there had been no romantic relationship between Jobaid and Barsha. For the past year, Jobaid had been tutoring Barsha in physics, chemistry and biology at her residence on the third floor of 15, Nurbox Lane, Armanitola, Old Dhaka. He was murdered there at around 4:45 pm on Sunday. Bloodstains were found along the staircase at the scene.

The OC further said that Barsha showed no signs of remorse or nervousness during questioning, remaining calm and composed throughout. “The investigation is ongoing and all aspects behind the incident are being thoroughly examined,” he added.

Following the killing, Jagannath University students took to the streets in anger, lighting fires in front of Bongshal Police Station and blocking traffic at Tantibazar intersection. Police later took Barsha into custody at around 11 pm.

Jobaid’s body was sent to Mitford Hospital for post-mortem examination at 10:50 p.m. However, the victim’s family alleged that no case had been filed even 14 hours after the murder.

OC Rafiqul Islam confirmed that efforts are underway to arrest Mahir Rahman and his accomplices.