Four people have been arrested by the district Detective Branch in connection with the killing of Mohammad Karim in Chattogram’s Raozan upazila, police said on Monday.
The arrests relate to the killing in the Keranihat area of Urkirchar Union. Chattogram Superintendent of Police Masud Alam confirmed the development in a press statement issued on Monday afternoon.
The arrested men have been identified as Md Selim, 50, Syed Mohammad Shukkur, 27, Md Javed, 28, and Md Alamin, 29. All four are residents of the Urkirchar area under Raozan Police Station. Police said they had previously faced cases involving offences including theft and abduction.
According to the police account, the killing was linked to a dispute over a stolen motorcycle. Around 10 days before Karim was killed, a motorcycle belonging to Azgar, the maternal uncle of a man named Parvez, was stolen in the area.
Police said Parvez suspected Karim of being involved in the theft because of an existing dispute between them. He allegedly pressured Karim to return the motorcycle. Karim repeatedly denied having any connection with the theft, but Parvez was reportedly not convinced by his explanation.
Investigators allege that Parvez subsequently planned to kill Karim.
On the evening of 3 September, Parvez allegedly lured Karim to the Keranihat market area of Raozan. Police said Parvez and other alleged accomplices then attacked him. Karim was reportedly shot first and subsequently attacked with sharp weapons, leaving him critically injured.
The incident occurred at about 9.20pm in the Keranihat area of Urkirchar Union. Police had earlier said that a group of people arrived in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw after Karim entered the market, surrounded him and attacked him with firearms and sharp weapons.
Karim died in the attack.
Although four people have now been arrested, Parvez, whom police describe as a key suspect, remains at large. Police said he has several previous cases against him at Raozan Police Station and different police stations in Chattogram city. The cases reportedly include allegations involving murder, robbery, firearms, violence against women and children, explosives and other offences.
Local sources also alleged that Karim had been involved in Youth League politics during the previous Awami League period and was locally associated with the control of drug trading. They said he had been forced to leave the area at the time following allegations linked to the drug trade. After the political change on 5 August 2024, Karim returned to Raozan and reportedly attempted to become involved in Youth Dal politics.
Police records reviewed in connection with the case indicate that Karim himself had faced at least 10 cases in Raozan, Rangamati Sadar and various police stations under Chattogram Metropolitan Police. The cases reportedly included allegations of theft, robbery, rape and offences under firearms legislation.
Police are examining whether the stolen motorcycle was the sole motive behind the killing or whether earlier disputes also played a role.
Masud Alam said investigators had received information indicating that Parvez and at least one other person were involved in the killing. Efforts to locate and arrest those still at large are continuing.
The investigation is expected to focus on establishing the full sequence of events, identifying the roles of each suspect and determining whether the alleged motorcycle theft and earlier disputes were connected to the fatal attack. Police have continued their efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects.
