Authorities have successfully recovered the motorcycle and helmet used in the violent attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab platform, marking a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation. In addition, the forged number plate affixed to the motorcycle at the time of the incident was discovered in a nearby manhole, having been deliberately discarded to obscure the vehicle’s identity. All recovered items have been handed over to the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.
According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police retrieved the items last Sunday morning at approximately 8:45 am from an abandoned parking space in the Bonolota residential area of Agargaon, Dhaka. The recovery represents a critical step forward in piecing together the sequence of events surrounding the December 12 attack.
The attack itself took place in the Purana Paltan neighbourhood, where unidentified assailants opened fire on Hadi while he was travelling in a rickshaw. Hadi, who is a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency and convenor of the Inquilab platform, sustained serious injuries. He was transferred to Singapore on Monday to receive advanced medical treatment, reflecting the severity of his condition.
CTTC sources explained that a dedicated investigative team meticulously analysed CCTV footage, which revealed alterations made to the motorcycle’s number plate to mislead authorities. Acting on confidential intelligence, officers located the motorcycle and helmet in the basement parking of a private residence in West Agargaon. The forged number plate was subsequently found in a nearby manhole, carefully concealed but ultimately traceable.
The ownership trail of the motorcycle proved highly complex. Originally registered to Abdur Rahman, the vehicle passed through eight different individuals before ultimately coming into the possession of Mainuddin Islam. Investigators established that Mainuddin had purchased the motorcycle using the National ID of Md. Kabir, an associate of the principal suspect, Foysal Karim.
Police have identified the primary perpetrators as Foysal Karim, former leader of the banned student organisation Chhatra League, and his accomplice Almgeer Sheikh, both of whom are believed to have fled to India. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are actively pursuing their apprehension.
Officials emphasised that the recovery of the motorcycle, helmet, and fake number plate, coupled with ongoing investigative efforts, is expected to accelerate the identification and arrest of all individuals involved. Authorities hope that the swift capture of the suspects will reinforce law and order, bolster public confidence, and serve as a warning against politically motivated violence.