Severely injured Zobayed had sought help knocking on Barsha’s door but she refused to assist and then he died due to excessive bleeding, said police.

Briefing reporters at DMP media centre on Tuesday, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime & Operations) Nazrul Islam said Mahir and Barsha had been in a relationship for about one and a half years. 

Later, Barsha developed a romantic relationship with Zobayed, which Mahir could not accept.

Following repeated disputes, Barsha instigated Mahir to kill Zobayed, he said.

Mahir then shared the plan with his friend Aylan and the two bought a switch-gear knife at Tk 500 from Bowbazar in South Keraniganj, he said.

“On the day of the incident, Barsha informed Mahir when Zobayed would arrive at her house for tuition. As soon as Zobayed reached the building, Mahir confronted him and stabbed him in the neck during an altercation,” said Nazrul Islam.

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Deputy Commissioner (Lalbagh zone) Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami, who was also present at the press conference, said Barsha confessed that Zobayed’s last words were, “Save me,” to which she replied, “If you don’t move away, I can’t be with Mahir.”

Police later conducted operations in South Keraniganj, Paltan and Bangshal areas and arrested three accused on Monday night.

The arrestees are Md. Mahir Rahman, 19, Barjis Shabnam Barsha, 19, and Fardeen Ahmed Aylan, 20.

The murder took place around 4:30 pm on Sunday (October 19) in Noor Box Lane area under Bangshal police station in Old Dhaka.