Rab arrests Adabar BNP leader over killing linked to World Cup viewing dispute

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has arrested BNP leader Monowar Hossain alias Ledu Hasan in connection with the murder of party leader Abul Bashar Badsha during a clash over watching a World Cup football match in Dhaka’s Adabar.

Monowar had supplied the weapon to Parvez, the prime accused in the murder, and was arrested last night during a drive at Mohammadia Housing Society, Rab-2 Commander Noymul Hasan said at a press conference at Rab Media Centre in Karwan Bazar today.

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According to Adabar Police Station and BNP sources, Monowar was the joint convener of the Adabar Thana unit of the party. He was expelled twice on charges of involvement in activities contrary to party discipline. Allegations of his involvement surfaced after the murder of Abul Bashar in the Nobodoy Housing area.

Abul Bashar, general secretary of Nobodoy Housing unit BNP, was stabbed during a clash over watching a World Cup football match in Nobodoy Housing on July 1. He later died.

Rab said Monowar faces 32 cases, including for murder, arms, extortion, and drugs. He was named in the first information report (FIR) of the Ohiduzzaman murder case in 2010. He was arrested at the time and was in jail until 2012. He was also arrested with a foreign pistol, a magazine, and bullets in 2021, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in an arms case.

Locals had long complained against Monowar over extortion, criminal activities, and patronising teen gangs, Rab added.