'Underworld' criminal Dilip alias Binash ordered the killing of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir over extortion and control in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area, detectives said on Saturday.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner and Detective Branch (DB) Chief Shafikul Islam disclosed the information while briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road on Saturday morning.

He said eight to nine extortion syndicates are currently operating at Karwan Bazar and the murder stemmed from rivalry over control of extortion earnings.

Shafikul said the DB is working to dismantle the syndicates and will launch drives soon.

Replying to a question, he said preliminary findings indicate that Dilip alias Binash is currently staying abroad.

Musabbir, former general secretary of Swechchhasebak Dal’s Dhaka North City unit, was shot dead on January 7 in an alley beside Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue.

His wife filed a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station the following day against four to five unidentified individuals.

Earlier, on January 11, DB arrested Jinnat (24), Abdul Kadir (28), Md Riaz (31) and Md Bilal in connection with the killing.

On Friday morning, another alleged shooter, Rahim, was arrested from Narsingdi, bringing the total number of arrests to five.

Asked about the identities of the arrestees Shafikul Islam said they should be described as extortionists. “Extortionists have no political ideology and often misuse political identities or banners to carry out illegal activities.” he added.

Responding to another query, he said police reviewed CCTV footage from the crime scene immediately after the incident and identified two shooters.

One of them, Jinnat, was arrested earlier while the second shooter, Rahim, was arrested on Friday.