In a decisive operation, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-1) has apprehended the principal accused in the high-profile murder of Advocate Naeem Kibria. The suspect, identified as Jobayer Hossain Pappu, was intercepted in the Baridhara district of Dhaka on Sunday, 4 January. According to an official statement released by the elite paramilitary unit, Pappu has provided a preliminary confession, admitting his central role in the violent confrontation that led to the barrister’s death on New Year’s Eve.
The tragedy, which has been widely condemned as a senseless act of “street justice,” unfolded within the gated Bashundhara Residential Area. Investigators revealed that Advocate Naeem had been staying with relatives in Rupganj since mid-December. On the night of 31 December, he was travelling through Bashundhara in a private car when his vehicle was involved in a minor collision with a motorcycle.
What should have been a routine insurance matter escalated into a lethal assault. Following a verbal altercation, several individuals on motorcycles intercepted Naeem’s car, forcibly dragged him from the driver’s seat, and subjected him to a brutal, coordinated physical beating. Despite being rushed to Kurmitola General Hospital, the legal professional succumbed to his injuries before medical intervention could be administered.
The Legal Fraternity Demands Accountability
The murder has sparked a wave of indignation across the Bangladeshi legal system. On Sunday, a significant number of advocates staged a “human chain” protest in front of the Dhaka Bar Association in Old Dhaka. Under the banner of the “Conscious Lawyers’ Society,” members of the bar expressed their outrage over the rising culture of mob violence and the perceived lack of safety for professionals within the capital.
The protesters have issued a memorandum to the authorities, demanding that the trial be fast-tracked and that no leniency be shown to those who bypass the legal system to settle minor disputes through violence.
Timeline and Key Details of the Naeem Kibria Case
| Date | Event Description |
| 17 December | Naeem Kibria arrives at a relative’s home in Rupganj. |
| 31 December (9:00 pm) | Altercation begins in Bashundhara RA following a traffic incident. |
| 31 December (Late) | Naeem is pronounced dead at Kurmitola General Hospital. |
| 2 January | Formal murder case registered at Bhatara Police Station. |
| 4 January | RAB-1 arrests principal suspect Jobayer Hossain Pappu in Baridhara. |
| 4 January | Dhaka lawyers stage a mass protest at the Bar Association. |
The arrest of the primary suspect is viewed by many as a vital first step, yet the legal community remains vigilant. Advocates have indicated that they will continue to monitor the investigation closely to ensure that all members of the “mob” are identified and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.