Man arrested in journalist Alif murder case in Netrokona
Police have arrested a man suspected of involvement in the murder of journalist Lutfozzaman Fakir Alif in Durgapur, Netrokona.
The arrestee, Sajibul Islam alias Aporbo, 30, was arrested at around 1am on Saturday (October 17) from the Modhyabazar area of Durgapur Municipality, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Durgapur Police Station Khandakar Shaker Ahmed confirmed to Daily Waadaa.
Sajibul is the son of Shomser Ali of the Ukilpara area of Durgapur Municipality. He was previously arrested in connection with the murder of police Sub-Inspector (SI) Shofiqul Islam and gave a confessional statement in court in that case.
Speaking over the phone, the OC said Sajibul was released on bail on 9 September last year in connection with the SI murder case.
He has not yet confessed to direct involvement in Alif's murder but has provided law enforcement agencies with crucial information about those involved, the OC said. The details are being withheld in the interest of the investigation. Sajibul is undergoing further interrogation.
Alif was shot dead at around 8pm on Thursday (October 15) at Uttarail Bazar on the Shyamganj-Birishiri road. He had reportedly stepped out of a tea stall near his in-laws' house when the attack took place.
Police said two men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire before fleeing. Local residents rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshots.
Alif was taken to Durgapur Upazila Health Complex in critical condition, where the duty doctor declared him dead.
Following the killing, his wife, Anandita Sangma, filed a murder case against seven to eight unidentified people.
A post-mortem examination at Netrokona Sadar Hospital found that Alif had been shot six times. Five bullets passed through his body, while another remained lodged in his back and was recovered during the examination.
Dr Shroddhananda Nath, who conducted the post-mortem, told Waadaa that three bullets struck Alif in the chest. Two passed through his body, while the third remained lodged in his back.
Another bullet entered through the right side of his forehead and exited through the back of his head. A fifth bullet grazed the skin on the top of his head, while the sixth passed through the skin near his right shoulder.
“From the entry and exit wounds, the preliminary assessment is that Alif was shot from the front,” Nath said.
Previous attack and possible motives
Alif had survived an earlier attack on 10 November last year near Teribazar Ghat on the bank of the Someshwari River in Durgapur, according to local police records.
Unidentified assailants allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons, leaving him injured. A colleague who tried to intervene was also reportedly threatened at knifepoint.
Police have not established whether the earlier attack was connected to his murder.
ASP Circle Al-Imranul Alam told Waadaa that investigators were examining several possible motives, including Alif's journalistic work.
Alam said Alif had been injured in an attack in November last year but could not immediately recall the exact date. Asked whether the journalist had previously filed a general diary seeking police protection, he did not provide further details. Alam also said Alif's wife had fainted after seeing her husband's body when asked whether the family had identified anyone they suspected of involvement.
Alif had reported on various crimes, including smuggling and drug trafficking along the border. At an exchange-of-views meeting between local journalists and the then superintendent of police of Netrokona on 30 November last year, he had expressed concerns about his personal safety.
A video of the meeting circulated on social media on Saturday. In the video, Alif said he was facing threats because of his reporting on criminals and had received information about a plot to kill him using firearms.
“I am stating this before everyone as witnesses: if these culprits are not apprehended, I will either have to become a bigger criminal than them or leave the country,” he said.
The OC said police were investigating the motive behind Alif's murder and identifying those involved. Investigators are also examining whether the killing was linked to previous attacks on him.