Accused put on remand in journalist Alif murder case

A court has put Sajibul Islam, alias Apurbo, an accused in the murder case of journalist Lutfuzzaman Alif Fakir on a one-day remand.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Nurul Amin Bhuiyan of Durgapur Chowki Court issued the order on Monday afternoon as police sought seven-day remand for Apurbo, 28.

Sub-inspector (SI) Asadul Islam of Durgapur Police Station, the case's investigation officer, confirmed the matter.

The investigation officer said the accused was produced before the court on Sunday afternoon with a seven-day remand petition. After the hearing on Monday, the court granted one-day remand. He will be interrogated from 2pm on Monday until 2pm on Tuesday. The officer added that the case is being investigated with due seriousness.

According to police, journalist Alif Fakir was shot dead by miscreants around 7:30pm last Thursday in front of a shop near his in-laws' home in Teluzia village of Birishiri Union, Durgapur upazila.

On Friday night, the victim's wife, Anandita Sangma, filed a murder case with Durgapur Police Station against seven to eight unidentified people.

After the case was filed, police arrested Apurbo around 11:45pm on Saturday from the cinema hall area of Moddhobazar in Durgapur municipal town. He is the son of Shamsher Ali of Ukilpara in the town.

Earlier, on January 9, 2025, police sub-inspector (SI) Md Shafiqul Islam, who had come home on leave in Durgapur, was hacked to death. Apurbo was arrested on January 13 in connection with that murder case and was later released on bail.

The slain journalist, Lutfuzzaman Alif Fakir, worked as the Netrokona correspondent for the IPTV channel Rupashi Bangla. He also ran a Facebook page called "Detective Article."