Ctg microbus driver, Pathao rider killed

A microbus driver and a Pathao motorcycle rider were stabbed to death in separate incidents in Chattogram early yesterday, sparking protests and raising concerns over public safety in the district.

The microbus driver, identified as Mahbub Alam, 35, of the Azimpara area under Ward-3 of Hathazari municipality, was attacked around 4:00am at the yard of a building known as Alaol Hall in the Kolabagan area.

Jahidur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Hathazari Model Police Station, said a group of assailants stabbed Mahbub and fled the scene. Locals rushed him to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), but he died on the way.

Initially, the body was taken to the victim’s house.

Police later visited the residence, prepared an inquest report and sent the body to the CMCH morgue for autopsy, the OC said.

Following the death, leaders and activists of the Microbus Drivers’ Association staged a protest, demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the killing.

They blocked the Chattogram–Rangamati road in the Kolatol area, disrupting vehicular movement for about 20 minutes. Police said traffic returned to normal after they intervened. 

Preliminary investigation suggests that an altercation over a gambling-related dispute led to the murder, according to the law enforcers. 

Police were working to identify and arrest those responsible, the OC said.

The other victim, a Pathao motorbike driver, was identified as Aijur Rahman, 36, hailing from Bagerhat district. He lived with his wife in the Dup Pole area under Bandar Police Station.

Talking to The Daily Star, Bandar Police Station OC Abdur Rahim said a police patrol found Aijur with a stab wound on his chest on the main road near Bandar Dakhil Madrasa in the Port Colony area of the Port Connecting Road.

They took him to CMCH, where the on-duty doctors declared him dead at around 2:00am.

The OC said Aijur, in his dying declaration, told police that he was knifed in the Boropole area. After being stabbed, he managed to flee the scene riding his bike, but collapsed in the Port Colony area.

The body was sent to CMCH morgue for autopsy, and police started analysing CCTV footage, the police officer added.