2 under RAB interrogation as mystery intensifies surrounding ex-Khulna councillor's murder in Cox's Bazar
The Rapid Action Battalion is currently interrogating two individuals who had checked into a Cox’s Bazar hotel with Rabbani, police sources said. However, a woman, who was also with him, is currently absconding.
The mystery surrounding the murder of Golam Rabbani Tipu, former Khulna ward councillor and a local Swechasebak League leader, in Cox's Bazar by motorbike-riding gunmen has intensified in the 24 hours with a few more details coming to light.
The Rapid Action Battalion is currently interrogating two individuals who had checked into a Cox's Bazar hotel with Rabbani, police sources said.
However, a woman, who was also with him, is now missing.
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Besides, the police now suspect his killers were professional hitmen, Cox's Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md Jasim Uddin Chowdhury told The Business Standard.
The 55-year-old Khulna City Corporation (KCC) councillor was shot dead by motorbike-riding unidentified individuals at around 9pm yesterday (9 January) near the Seagull Hotel at Sugandha point of the beach.
"The bullet went through one side of the head and exited through the other. The victim was rushed to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead," said ASP Jasim.
He said, "Preliminary findings suggest Rabbani, along with another former councillor Sheikh Hasan Iftekhar Tipu and a woman named Rumi, checked into the Golden Hill Hotel in Cox's Bazar on Thursday morning. Later, a man named Mesbah Haque Bhutto joined them.
"In the evening, Rabbani and Rumi left the hotel, and just hours later, he was fatally shot. The woman accompanying him has since gone missing, and efforts to locate her are ongoing," he added.
RAB-15 Senior Assistant Director (law and media) ASP Mohammad Kamruzzaman said Iftekhar Tipu and Mesbah Haque have been detained for questioning.
"Efforts are underway to ascertain the motive behind the killing," he said.
A case has been filed with Cox's Bazar Sadar Police Station by Rabbani's brother-in-law Md Yusuf Ali Saif.
In the case statement, the plaintiff said Rabbani had been operating a fish farm business in Cox's Bazar for a long time. On 8 January, he informed his wife Nurjahan Begum about his arrival in Cox's Bazar from Dhaka.
Citing family members of the victim, ASP jasim said Rabbani had received death threats in the past due to political and electoral disputes in Khulna. These possibilities are now central to the investigation being conducted with assistance from RAB.
The ASP further said, "The body of the deceased was handed over to his family members after the post-mortem."
Rabbani, son of Md Golam Akbar, a resident of Deyana Uttar Para at Daulatpur under the KCC.
