Youth killed over Tajia procession dispute, 4 arrested

A young man was stabbed to death following an argument over holding the rope of a palanquin during a Tajia procession in Old Dhaka's Banglabazar area. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested four individuals in connection with the incident and recovered a switchgear knife, a machete and the clothes worn during the attack.

DMP's Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman disclosed the information at a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Saturday afternoon, June 27.

The arrestees are Md Rasheed, Atiqul Islam Shanto, Md Hridoy and Shihab Molla.

According to police, a Tajia procession left the Bibika Roza Imambara in Sutrapur for Dhanmondi on Friday afternoon, June 26. When the procession reached the Isphani Building on P K Roy Road in Banglabazar, an argument broke out between two groups over holding the palanquin's rope, which escalated into a scuffle and chasing.

At one point, the victim, Md Jakir Hossain, 31, took shelter under the Isphani Building to protect himself, but the attackers followed and stabbed him repeatedly with sharp weapons. Police rescued him with the help of locals and took him to Mitford Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Jakir Hossain was a cleaner of ward no 26 of Dhaka South City Corporation.

After the incident, the victim's elder brother filed a murder case at Sutrapur Police Station, naming 14 to 15 unidentified individuals as accused. Based on CCTV footage, intelligence and technical assistance, police identified the accused and arrested four.

DC Talebur Rahman said the arrestees have given important statements regarding their involvement in the murder. A total of 10 people have been identified as involved in the incident. While four have been arrested, operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining accused.

Police said the investigation is ongoing to uncover the full details of the murder.