Three Held Over Killing of BNP Leader

Police have detained three suspects in connection with the killing of BNP leader Jahidul Alam Jahangir, 52, in Mithamoin of Kishoreganj, alleging that they travelled from Dhaka as hired attackers to carry out the murder.

Jahangir was fatally attacked with machetes at around 9:30 pm on Wednesday while returning home on a motorcycle. A local BNP activist, Hadis Mia, 38, who attempted to save him during the assault, sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment in the surgery ward of Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital.

The detained suspects have been identified as Md Helal, 25, son of the late Sultan of Chalitabunia village in Bamna upazila of Barguna; Mohin Uddin, 32, son of Nur Hossain from Dudhrajpur in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur; and Shakil Hossain, also known as Shahin, 25, son of Rahmat Ullah from the Nagmud Bazar Middle Para area of the same upazila.

Kishoreganj Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman said that during preliminary interrogation, the three suspects admitted their involvement in the killing. According to investigators, they had arrived in Mithamoin from Dhaka three days before the attack with the intention of carrying out the murder.

Police said one of the suspects was apprehended at the scene with the assistance of local residents immediately after the attack. The remaining two were arrested later that night during a special operation conducted by district police.

Investigators are now focusing on identifying the motive behind the killing and determining who allegedly hired the suspects. Police are also examining the criminal backgrounds of those in custody to establish whether they were involved in previous offences. Officials said the seriousness of the case requires careful collection of evidence before formal legal proceedings are completed.

According to police, eyewitnesses and local residents, Jahangir and Hadis Mia had left Mithamoin Sadar Market on a motorcycle and were heading towards Jahangir’s residence near the embankment area. As they approached the entrance to his garden house, three men armed with sharp machetes launched a sudden attack.

Jahangir suffered multiple severe injuries, particularly to his head and other parts of his body. Despite the violent assault, Hadis Mia reportedly managed to overpower one of the attackers. He was then struck repeatedly with machetes on his head, arm and leg but continued to hold onto the suspect until local people arrived and handed the man over to police.

Azizul Kabir, the elder brother of the injured Hadis Mia, said his brother did not hold any official position within the BNP but had long been an active party worker. He described Hadis’s actions during the attack as an attempt to protect Jahangir despite the life-threatening injuries he himself sustained.

The victim’s younger brother, former Kishoreganj District BNP member Alamgir Hossain, said Jahangir will be buried at the family’s ancestral graveyard in Mithamoin after Friday prayers.

The killing has drawn a strong reaction from local BNP leaders. District BNP President Shariful Alam and General Secretary Mazharul Islam condemned the murder and demanded that both the killers and those who planned and financed the attack be identified and brought to justice through exemplary punishment.

Jahangir had recently been involved in another legal matter. On 25 February, he was arrested in connection with a case filed by the engineering office over the alleged felling of 20 government-owned mahogany trees along the Mithamoin embankment. On the same day, the BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, issued an order suspending Jahangir’s primary party membership along with all organisational positions. After spending about a month in prison, he was released on bail.

The suspension of his position as local BNP president was officially withdrawn on 5 July. However, the letter confirming the withdrawal became public only after his death, adding another point of discussion surrounding the case.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that all possible motives, including personal disputes, political rivalry and other factors, are being examined. Investigators expect further questioning of the detainees and forensic evidence to help establish the full circumstances behind one of the most high-profile killings in the district in recent months.