Police arrested a couple in connection with the killing of Habibullah Bahar College’s Vice Principal (VP) Saifur Rahman Bhuiyan at his rented house in Uttar Khan area of Dhaka.

The couple -- Mohammad Nazim Hossain, 21, and his wife Rupa Begum, alias Jannati, 23, -- was arrested from Faridpur Railway Station on Tuesday morning.

Md Mohidul Islam, deputy commissioner (DC-Uttara zone) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), revealed this at a press conference at the DMP’s Media Centre at the city’s Mintoo Road on Wednesday morning.

He said they arrested the couple from Faridpur with the help of local police 12 hours after the victim’s younger brother had filed a case in this regard.

During the primary interrogation, the couple confessed to the murder, he claimed.

Two mobile phones, a key ring, and a bank’s Visa card were seized from the couple during the arrest, he said, adding that prior to the arrests law enforcement recovered a machete, a knife, bloodstained clothes and a blood-soaked bed sheet from the crime scene in the victim’s flat.

Mohidul said that the killing occurred on the fourth floor of a six-storey building in Purana Para Batan area under Uttar Khan police station between 2am to 4am on March 10.

Habibullah Bahar College's Vice Principal Saifur Rahman killed at Uttarkhan

Referring to the case statement, the police official said that Saifur had been living in a rented house alone for the past three to four months, where he was constructing a house on his wife’s ancestral land. The flat where the crime occurred was situated in close proximity.

According to the primary interrogation, it was revealed that the victim introduced himself to the accused Nazim and Rupa at Kamalapur railway station two to three days before the killing, he said.

Through their introduction, Saifur brought the couple to his flat.

At some point, Saifur reportedly began to physically, mentally and sexually abuse Rupa. “On the night of the murder, Saifur, Nazim, and Rupa were in the same bed,” DC Mohidur said.

He explained that during that night when Nazim fell asleep, Saifur attempted to sexually assault Rupa.

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Upon waking up, Nazim brought a machete from the kitchen and repeatedly stabbed Saifur, causing fatal injuries that led to the death, he said, adding that the arrestees were sent to a Dhaka court.

Asked if there was any conflict between the victim and his wife, the police official replied that she would be interrogated, if needed.