College Student Murdered in Raipur, Three Arrested in Dhaka

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-11) has apprehended three suspects in connection with the brutal murder of college student Ashraful Islam in Raipur, Lakshmipur. The arrests were made in Dhaka, following an operation carried out late Friday night in the Bhulta Gausia area under Rupganj Police Station, Narayanganj.

RAB-11’s Noakhali camp company commander, Major Mohit Kabir Sereniabat, confirmed the arrests in a press release issued on Saturday afternoon. The detained individuals are identified as:

The victim, Ashraful Islam, was the son of Azizul Haque and hailed from Ward 3 of Charbanshi village, Uttar Charbanshi Union. He was in the final year of his degree at Raipur Rustam Ali College.

According to RAB, the attack occurred on the night of 14 January, orchestrated by local drug users and juvenile gang members led by Nahid Bepari and Shahin Bepari. Mistakenly believing Ashraful was dead, the attackers fled the scene. Locals subsequently rescued him and admitted him first to Raipur Upazila Health Complex, then to the district hospital. Due to deteriorating condition, he was later transferred to a hospital in Dhaka, where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening.

Ashraful’s father, Azizul Haque, filed a murder case on 16 January at Raipur Police Station, naming 11 individuals and listing 16 others as unidentified suspects.

Investigations suggest that some of the assailants, including Shahin, had previously been apprehended by the detective branch for drug possession. Shahin allegedly suspected that Ashraful had informed the police, prompting the violent retaliation on 14 January following Shahin’s bail release.

RAB officials stated that the three suspects have now been handed over to Raipur Police for further investigation, while operations continue to apprehend any remaining individuals involved in the murder.