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Shahidullah Murder

Traders to keep shops shut till killers' arrest

Staff Correspondent
Police yesterday held a suspected killer of businessman Kazi Shahidullah while Mirpur traders decided to keep their markets and shops closed for the third consecutive day today demanding immediate arrest and harsh punishment to the killers.
Police said professional killers hired by someone gunned down Shahidullah.
Thousands of traders at all the markets in Mirpur-1 kept their shutters down yesterday. They together with hordes of angry and horrified locals took out processions and staged demonstrations all through the day, condemning the Friday's brutal attack that also left Shahidullah's eldest son critically wounded.
From a protest rally near Shah Ali Shopping Complex, leaders of local traders associations and market committees and Dhaka City Shop Owners Association declared to go for a tough action programme if the murderers are not arrested and brought to justice within the next three days.
DISPUTE ADDED TO TOLLS AS REASON
Thirty-six hours into the outrageous murder, the police last night was yet to pin point the motive for it. However, they said issues like extortion and business disputes were gradually gathering more focus in their investigations.
Law enforcers and family members also hinted that Shahidullah's stiff insistence to realise an outstanding rent to the tune of Tk 65 lakh from a garments factory owner might also be a reason for his assassination.
Roots Garments, which rented a 19,200sq-ft floor of the Mirpur Mazar Co-operative Market building, owes the sum to the market association, of which Shahidullah was the general secretary.
The owner of Roots Garments, who claims to be a ruling BNP leader and on very good terms with a BNP minister and a Dhaka lawmaker, did not bother to pay the rent despite repeated reminders from the market association, local business leaders alleged.
"Mazar Co-operative Market Association submitted a written complaint to Mirpur-based Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-4) on February 17 and requested it to help the association realise the due," said an association leader seeking anonymity.
He also said, after submission of the complaint to Rab-4, the garments factory owner had a brawl with Shahidullah.
"We are now mainly focusing on illegal tolls demand and the dispute over the rent [as possible causes]," said Mirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rob.
Meanwhile, police arrested Mohammad Selim, 18, an alleged criminal, from his south Bishil house at about 1:00pm, suspecting his involvement in the killing.
The OC said Selim was present on the spot. "Once we start interrogating him, we may find a lead to the killing," he noted.
CASE FILED
Jobaida Akhter, wife of slain Shahidullah, filed a case with Mirpur Police Station early yesterday. But she did not mention any specific reason for the killing or name anyone as killers.
She said a gang of six unidentified criminals shot her husband dead.
However, in the FIR (first information report) she mentioned that some criminals had been demanding a huge amount in illegal tolls from Shahidullah for the last few months.
She also mentioned that her husband might have been killed also due to unknown reason.
CONDITION OF PRINCE
Kazi Tofazzel Hossain Prince, son of Shahidullah, is gradually recovering from his bullet wound. Doctors at Shamirita Hospital said prince is still in a post-operative unit, but his condition is now better.
The killers shot Prince in the abdomen when he tried to save his father when they were shooting at his father soon after the Jumma prayer at South Bishil.