Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested four individuals for their alleged involvement in a gunfight between two criminal gangs over control of the drug trade in the capital’s Gandaria.
The arrestees are Farid Bepari, 23, Md Sobuj, 22, Shahadat Hossain Alif, 18, and Rifat Hossain, 19.
Two foreign-made pistols, two magazines, two rounds of ammunition, a switchblade knife, a sharp curved knife and 160 yaba tablets were recovered from their possession, Additional Police Commissioner of DMP’s DB Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said at a press briefing Thursday.
Shafiqul Islam said the gunfight and display of locally made weapons took place between two groups between 7pm and 7:30pm on August 30 (Sunday), in Munshirteck area of Swamibagh in Gandaria over establishing and controlling dominance in the drug trade.
Three people, including pedestrians and shopkeepers, sustained bullet injuries during the incident, he said.
Following the incident, the DB’s Wari division launched a shadow investigation alongside Gandaria police. Investigators identified the armed attackers after analysing CCTV footage.
The DB official said those identified in the footage were subsequently arrested. One suspect seen carrying a large knife was arrested with the same weapon, while one of two identified armed suspects was arrested with a firearm.
As part of the investigation, a DB team raided a construction site of Israt Construction near No. 8 Para in Mir Hazaribagh, Gandaria, on the road from Dholairpar towards Dayaganj under Jatrabari Police Station around 11:10pm Wednesday and arrested the four.
Asked whether there was any business dispute involving BNP leader Monir Hossain, Shafiqul Islam said there could be several reasons behind the attack on Monir’s office.
He said investigators were looking into whether the attackers had any business dispute with Monir apart from his political identity.
The DB official said drug trading had been taking place in the area for a long time. Investigators were also examining whether Monir had played any role in preventing others participating in the drug trade in the area, and whether that could have led to the attack.
The actual motive would become clearer after questioning the arrestees and completing the investigation, he said.
Asked whether anyone was behind the group, he said investigators had identified another alleged godfather, Auto Sajal, who is currently in jail after being arrested with firearms.
“We have learned that he was mainly behind them. We have filed a case and will confirm the matter through investigation,” he said.
Asked whether weapons were also used by Monir Hossain’s side, the DB official said investigators had found evidence that both sides used firearms during the incident.
Shafiqul Islam said police would not spare anyone based on their political identity.
A case has been filed against the four arrestees under the Arms Act with Jatrabari Police Station.
The DB’s operation to identify and arrest others involved in the incident is continuing.