The killing of TikTok content creator and college student Rakib in the capital’s Central Shaheed Minar area was planned over suspicion regarding his communication with a young lady.

According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the killing was carried out by hired killers on the order of the woman’s husband, Sajid.

Five suspects—Shihab, Joy, Rafin, Sagar and Salauddin—have been arrested in connection with the incident. Among them, Rafin was apprehended from the crime scene, while Shihab and Joy were arrested from Khulna, Sagar from Patuakhali, and Salauddin from Gopalganj.

The information was disclosed by Deputy Commissioner (Ramna division) of DMP Masud Alam at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre on Thursday afternoon.

He said Rakib previously had a good relationship with Sajid, a drug trader based in Khulna. However, suspicion arose over Rakib’s communication with Sajid’s wife, leading Sajid to allegedly hire killers to carry out the murder.

Masud Alam said Sajid had been threatening Rakib for some time over the issue, which ultimately led to the murder.

Of the five arrested, four were directly involved in the killing mission. The shooter, identified as Alamin, is still at large. Shihab, Joy and Rafin attacked Rakib with machetes and knives, while Sagar was present at the scene. Salauddin coordinated logistics, including supplying weapons and positioning the attackers.

Police said they have identified several other suspects involved in the killing and are continuing efforts to arrest them.

Investigators said the attackers travelled from Khulna to Dhaka with the intention of carrying out the murder. They stayed in different hotels in the capital and conducted surveillance on Rakib, who regularly visited the Shaheed Minar area at night due to his activities as a TikTok content creator.

On the night of the incident, four attackers directly participated while others remained on backup.

Rakib, a second-year BA student of Borhan Uddin College, was stabbed and shot dead at the Shaheed Minar on Sunday night. He was with friends when several attackers stabbed him indiscriminately before shooting him in the head.

Rakib, son of a Dhaka University employee, hailed from Bhola Sadar’s Chowmuhani village and lived with his family on Nazimuddin Road in Nimtoli, in the city.