Police  on Thursday morning recovered the dismembered body of a scrap metal trader, who had been missing for over a week,  from  Sabujbagh in the capital.

 The deceased was identified as Zakir Hossain, 55, a resident of the Baikdia area under Sabujbagh police station. Police have arrested one suspect in connection with the killing.

 Sub-Inspector Shamsul Amin of Sabujbagh Police Station told the media that  Zakir had been missing since June 4. His family had filed a kidnapping case with the police station following his disappearance.

 “During investigation, we found that Zakir was last contacted by a man named Azahar, who was known to him,” the SI said.

 “Using technology and conducting drives in several areas, we detained Azahar from the capital’s Mohanagar area. During primary interrogation, he confessed to the murder,” he added.

 According to police, Zakir was first hit on the head with an iron rod. After he fell to the ground, he was hacked to death with a sharp weapon and then his body was dismembered. His body was later buried in a jungle near his residence.

 Zakir’s mutilated body was recovered around 12:30pm on Thursday and sent to Dhaka Medical College hospital morgue for autopsy following legal procedures, SI Shamsul Alimsaid.

 Police said the motive behind the killing is still under investigation and further interrogation of the accused is underway.

 Zakir ran a scrap business in the Nandipara area. His younger brother, Masud Hossain, claimed there had been a longstanding land dispute involving local residents, including Faruk and Meher Ali, over ancestral property.

 Masud alleged that the murder was preplanned and carried out by hired goons.

“On the night of June 4, Azahar called my brother and took him out of the house. He never returned,” Masud said, adding that Zakir had lent a large sum of money to Azahar.

The family filed a case accusing several people, including Azahar, Sapan, Imon, Rajib, and Shukkur, of abduction.