Musabbir murder: Suspect makes confessional statement

Alleged shooter Mohammad Zinnat yesterday gave a confessional statement before a magistrate, admitting his role in the killing of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir in Dhaka’s Tejgaon area.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque recorded Zinnat’s statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure after he was produced before her chamber, a court staffer said.

 According to an investigator, Zinnat opened fire during the attack, injuring Musabbir’s companion Abu Sufian Bepari Masud. Zinnat’s assigned role was to ensure a safe escape for the main shooter, Mohammad Rahim, the investigator added, citing Zinnat’s statement.

 Meanwhile, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam granted police a seven-day remand of Rahim’s two brothers -- Mohammad Billal and Abdul Kadir -- and their associate Mohammad Reaz after they were produced before the court, another court staffer said.

No defence lawyer was present during the remand hearing. When the judge asked about the motive behind the murder, one of the brothers claimed ignorance of the incident.

According to the case documents, Billal coordinated the killing, Rahim shot Musabbir dead, and Kadir assisted in carrying out the crime.

 Musabbir, 44, a former general secretary of the Swechchhasebak Dal’s Dhaka North City unit, was shot dead in an alley near Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue on January 7. Masud, general secretary of the Tejgaon Van Workers’ Union, was critically injured in the same attack.

 The following day, Musabbir’s wife, Suraiya Begum, filed a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station against four to five unidentified individuals.