Magura Jubo Dal leader murder and 150-bhori gold robbery: Swechchhasebak Dal convener among four arrested, five gold bars seized

Police have arrested Md Maruf Hossain, convener of the Magura municipal Swechchhasebak Dal, in the cases over the murder of Jubo Dal leader Shaker Hossain and the robbery of 150 bhoris of gold. He was arrested on Thursday. Police say a total of four people had been arrested in the two cases by Friday afternoon.

Police say five gold bars from the robbery were seized based on information given by the arrested Maruf Hossain. Police have not, however, given an official statement on whether the gold robbery and the Jubo Dal leader's murder are connected.

In the early hours of 21 October, Jubo Dal leader Shaker Hossain was shot dead at the Royal Paribahan counter at the central bus terminal in Magura municipality. He was 39 years old. His wife filed a murder and arms case against unnamed persons over the incident.

By Friday afternoon, four people had been arrested in the murder case. On the night after the incident, Rony Sikder and Shamima Tabassum were arrested. Rony is 38 and Shamima 31. Rony Sikder is a member of the convening committee of Dhaka Metropolitan South Jubo Dal. Both are now on a five-day remand.

On Tuesday, police arrested a gold trader from Jhenaidah named Animesh Majumdar as a suspect. He is 55 years old and owns a jewellery business named Gini House on Gitanjali Road in Jhenaidah. The latest arrest is that of Magura municipal Swechchhasebak Dal leader Maruf Hossain.

The murder case is being investigated by Sub-Inspector Md Kamruzzaman of the district detective police. He said a court granted a five-day remand for the accused Maruf Hossain on Friday afternoon.

The gold robbery case was filed by Md Mojibor Rahman of Singair upazila in Manikganj, a gold trader. In the case he stated that the robbery took place on 6 October at 12:50pm in the Ramnagar Bazar area under Magura Sadar police station. That day, he collected 150 bhoris of gold from a gold trader named Piyush in Dhaka's Tantibazar and set out from Sayedabad in Dhaka on a Golden Line Paribahan bus to deliver it to Jhenaidah trader Animesh Majumdar. Animesh Majumdar is currently in jail in the Jubo Dal leader murder case.

When the bus reached Ramnagar Bazar in Magura, a group of 12 to 15 people identifying themselves as police stopped the bus, forced Mojibor Rahman down and took him to an unknown place, according to the case. When the robbers told him to hand over the gold, he refused. Members of the gang then tried to hit him on the head with an iron rod. He moved his head away, and the blow landed on his right shoulder, breaking the bone and seriously injuring him.

The robbers then beat him indiscriminately and snatched 150 bhoris of tezabi gold bars worth 2.9 crore taka from a pocket made under the belt of his trousers, along with 60,000 taka in cash, according to the case. When local people came forward at Mojibor Rahman's screams, the gang fled with the goods after issuing threats.

Mojibor Rahman said by phone that after the incident he went to the nearby Nakol police outpost in Sreepur, where he was told the area falls under Magura Sadar police station. He then took treatment at Magura Sadar Hospital. As he had no relatives there and felt insecure, he left after primary treatment. He later submitted a written complaint at the police station on 15 October.

According to Magura Sadar police station records, the robbery case was recorded on the night of 28 October under sections 170, 395 and 397 of the Penal Code. Officer-in-Charge Md Faruk Ahmed said he has newly taken charge at the station, so he cannot comment on the earlier complaint without seeing the records.

The robbery case is being investigated by Inspector Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman of the district police detective branch. He said four people had been arrested in this case by Friday afternoon: Md Jewel Hossain of Parnanduali Byaparipara, Toukir Ahmed, Swechchhasebak Dal leader Maruf Hossain, and Maruf's relative Farid Mondal. Jewel Hossain and Toukir Ahmed were arrested on Wednesday and are in jail. Both were known to be close to the slain Jubo Dal leader. Farid Mondal, arrested on Thursday, is the father-in-law of the arrested Maruf Hossain.

Magura Superintendent of Police Molla Azad Hossain said on Friday afternoon that he was not making any comment on the matter at this time. He expressed hope that the mystery of the murder would be uncovered soon. Based on information given by the arrested accused, five pieces of gold have been seized; they are being measured and will be presented in court. He said the police investigation to uncover the mystery of the robbery and the murder is continuing.