Law enforcement authorities in Chittagong have reported the targeted killing of Mohammad Hassan, also known as Raju, in what appears to be a retaliatory strike. The incident occurred on Thursday at approximately 10:00 pm in the Roufabad area of the Bayezid Bostami police station. Raju, the son of Abul Kalam and a resident of Kadalpur Union in the Rauzan Upazila, was visiting his sister’s residence when the fatal attack took place.
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Details of the Incident
According to eyewitnesses and preliminary police investigations, the assassination was executed with clinical precision. At around 9:30 pm, while Raju was socialising with his family after dinner, he received a phone call on his mobile device. Upon exiting the house to the entrance of the alley in response to the call, he was immediately intercepted by three to four masked assailants.
CCTV footage retrieved from the Shahid Minar Colony area confirms the brevity and intensity of the assault. The footage reveals the gunmen firing four rounds of ammunition within a mere six-second window. The entire mission, from arrival to escape, was completed in approximately one minute. Raju sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Collateral Damage and Local Impact
The attack resulted in significant collateral damage, as an eleven-year-old girl named Reshmi Akhtar was caught in the crossfire. She sustained critical gunshot injuries and remains in a life-threatening condition at a local hospital. The gunfire caused widespread panic in the residential colony, with many locals initially mistaking the sounds for firecrackers or electrical short-circuits.
Incident Summary and Case Profile
| Detail | Information |
| Victim Name | Mohammad Hassan (alias Raju) |
| Location | Shahid Minar Colony, Roufabad, Chittagong |
| Date and Time | Thursday, approx. 10:00 pm |
| Assailants | 3-4 masked gunmen |
| Ammunition Used | 4 rounds fired in 6 seconds |
| Associated Case | Suspect in Nasir Uddin murder case |
| Political Context | Retaliation for the killing of a Juba Dal activist |
Motive and Investigative Context
Law enforcement officials believe the murder was premeditated and directly linked to the killing of Juba Dal activist Nasir Uddin on 26 April in Rauzan. Nasir Uddin was a known follower of the former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Member of Parliament, Giyasuddin Quader Chowdhury.
Raju had been named as an accused in the Nasir murder case. Following Nasir’s death, his siblings identified Raju as one of the individuals involved in the fatal ambush. Consequently, investigators suspect that Raju’s killing was a “tit-for-tat” retaliatory act by rival political factions.
Official Statements and Ongoing Inquiries
Amirul Islam, Deputy Commissioner (North) of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), stated that the criminal activities originating in Rauzan Upazila have begun to spill over into the metropolitan jurisdiction. He confirmed that multiple units, including the Detective Branch (DB) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), are analysing CCTV footage and conducting field operations, though no significant arrests have yet been made.
In contrast to the police profile, the victim’s twin brother, Mohammad Hossain Saju, has denied Raju’s involvement in politics or the Nasir murder. Speaking at the Chittagong Medical College (CMC) Hospital morgue, Saju asserted that Raju was a day labourer with no known enemies and intended to file a formal complaint regarding the killing.
Regional Security Situation
This incident highlights a broader trend of violence in the Rauzan region. Since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, the area has seen a documented spike in crime. Data indicates that in the last 22 months, at least 23 homicides have been recorded in Rauzan, 16 of which have been classified as politically motivated. Authorities view Raju’s death as a continuation of this cycle of regional unrest.