A case has been filed at Haimchar Police Station in connection with the killing of seven individuals aboard a cargo vessel on the Meghna River in Chandpur.
The case was filed on Tuesday night (December 24) by Md Mahbub Morshed, a resident of Dohar in Dhaka, on behalf of the vessel owner. Syed Mushfiqur Rahman, Superintendent of Chandpur River Police, confirmed that the case accuses 8 to 10 unidentified individuals of murder and robbery.
Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a man named Akash Mondol, alias Irfan, from the Chitalmari area in Bagerhat in connection with the murder. The arrest was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Muneem Ferdous, the legal and media wing director of the elite force.
Additionally, separate four-member investigation committees have been formed by the Ministry of Industries and the local administration in Chandpur to probe the incident. On Tuesday afternoon, the bodies of the victims were handed over to their families.
The deceased have been identified as Md Golam Kibria (65), the vessel's master from Faridpur; Sheikh Shobuj (35), a lascar and Kibria's nephew; Aminul Munshi (40), the helmsman from Lohagora, Narail; Md Majedul Islam (17), a lascar from Mohammadpur, Magura; Sajibul Islam (26), another lascar from the same area in Magura; Md Salauddin Molla (40), the engine driver from Lohagora, Narail; and Rana (20), the cook from Srinagar, Munshiganj.
According to the case statement filed by Mahbub Morshed, injured crew member Jewel, who sustained a severe throat injury, was unable to speak to provide details about the robber gang. However, he indicated through gestures that he would recognize the robbers if he saw them again. Jewel also wrote down that nine individuals were involved, identifying one of them as Irfan, although further details about him are unknown.
During the investigation, police recovered several items from the vessel, including a blood-stained Chinese axe, a folding knife, two smartphones, two button phones, a wallet, cash amounting to Tk 8,000, a notebook, a seal, a pair of headphones, and remnants of food, including a handful of rice and a spoon of curry.
Syed Mushfiqur Rahman, Superintendent of Chandpur River Police, stated that the investigation team is working to uncover the mystery behind the planned killings aboard the MV Al Bakhera cargo vessel. Injured crew member Jewel is currently undergoing treatment under security at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
On Monday (December 23) afternoon, the bloodied bodies of seven individuals were discovered aboard the MV Al Bakhera cargo vessel on the Meghna River in Haimchar, Chandpur.