Hadi murder case: Jubo League leader Taizul helped the killer flee

The police have identified two individuals who helped Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, and his accomplice Alamgir Sheikh, flee to India.

One of them has been arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB). The arrested individual is Aminul Islam, the brother-in-law of a Jubo League leader. With this arrest, police and RAB have now detained 11 people in connection with Hadi’s murder.

Sources involved in the investigation said law enforcement agencies are giving top priority to identifying those directly involved in Hadi’s killing as well as the individuals behind the scenes, and bringing them under the law. Among other things, investigators have obtained information about who arranged for the shooter Faisal and his motorcycle rider Alamgir to cross the border.

Police said the key role in this operation was played by Taizul Islam Chowdhury (Bappy), organisational secretary of Dhaka North Jubo League and former ward councilor of Mirpur, with assistance from his brother-in-law Aminul Islam.

Local sources said former ward councilor Taizul was close to former Mirpur-area MP Ilias Molla. Following the mass uprising of 5 August last year, he fled to India.

Faisal, identified as the shooter, is a former central leader of Chhatra League, and his accomplice Alamgir is a Jubo League activist from Adabar thana.

According to the investigation, Faisal and Alamgir fled to India the same night through the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh. Preparations had been made in advance to cross the border, which were arranged by Jubo League leader Taizul. There are brokers in the Haluaghat area who illegally facilitate border crossings for money. One such broker is Philip Snal, whose house is in Bhutiyapara village near the Haluaghat border.

Investigators said that shortly after Hadi was shot, former councilor Taizul called his brother-in-law Aminul, saying he could not reach Philip by phone from India. He instructed Aminul to contact Philip and ensure that the two men were crossed over that night. Aminul then contacted Philip and relayed Taizul’s instructions, sending him Tk 5,000. Meanwhile, Faisal and Alamgir switched vehicles several times in Dhaka and reached Haluaghat that night. Philip facilitated their border crossing.

After the shooting, intelligence sources tracked Faisal and Alamgir near the Haluaghat border using technology. Subsequent raids led to the arrest of two of Philip’s accomplices. From them, police learned that after facilitating the crossing, Philip realized from TV news that the two men had committed a major crime in Dhaka. Philip then went into hiding.

During the investigation into who contacted Philip on the day of the incident, authorities traced the link to Aminul, a resident of Mirpur, Dhaka, who was then arrested.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (DB) Shafiqul Islam told Prothom Alo on Wednesday that Aminul Islam was arrested from Mirpur over allegations of helping Faisal and Alamgir escape. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved in the case.

Court sources said Aminul has been granted five days’ remand for questioning. Investigators said initial interrogation and digital analysis revealed Aminul’s communications with Philip and Taizul on the day of the incident. Aminul is reportedly involved in the illegal buying and selling of mobile phones.

Aminul Islam’s wife, Najma, told Prothom Alo that her husband had previously worked at a private company, but had been running a mobile business for six months. She said she did not know why he had been arrested.

Sharif Osman Hadi, convenor of Inqilab Moncho, was a potential BNP candidate for Dhaka-8 and had long been engaging in public outreach. On 12 December, shortly after Friday prayers, he was shot while riding a rickshaw on Calvert Road, Purana Paltan, Dhaka.

After being shot in the head, the attackers fled on a motorcycle. Hadi was later flown to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on 18 December.

His funeral was held on Sunday at Manik Mia Avenue with participation from hundreds of thousands of people, and he was buried beside the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s mausoleum near Dhaka University Central Mosque.