Awami League leader Zahidul Islam Tipu was killed over establishing supremacy in several illegal trades in the Motijheel area, according to Rapid Action Battalion.
The mastermind of the murder was Omar Farooq (52), general secretary of Awami League's ward-10 unit of Dhaka South City Corporation, said Rab spokesperson Commander Khandaker Al-Moin during a press briefing today, adding that the whole killing mission was monitored from Dubai.
The briefing was held at the Rab media centre in Karwan Bazar after four people, including Omar Farooq, were arrested in connection with the murder last night.
The murder contract was fixed at TK 15 lakh, most of which was provided by Omar Farooq, said the Rab official.
During primary interrogation, Farooq and the other three arrestees Abu Saleh Sikder alias Shooter Saleh (38), Nasir Uddin alias Killer Nasir (38) and Morshedul Alam alias Kayla Palash (51), have admitted to being involved in the killing, said Commander Moin, also the Rab Legal and Media Wing director.
There was a long-standing dispute between the four and Tipu regarding extortion, tender, school-college admission trade, and market control in the Motijheel area, the Rab official said. Tipu was murdered due to these disputes.
The four were arrested from Mugda, Shahjahanpur and Mirpur areas of the capital last night. A motorcycle used for surveillance at the time of the murder, a mobile phone and TK 3.3 lakh paid for the murder were recovered from their possession, he added.
Jahidul Islam, along with Nasir, Kailla Palash and a few others from the country used to send information to Musa, who is in Dubai, about Tipu's whereabouts for several days before the murder. On the evening of the incident, Nasir informed Musa four times about Tipu's location.
"Omar Farooq provided TK 9 lakh out of the 15 lakh for the murder. Nasir Uddin, Abu Saleh Sikder, and Musa provided the rest," Moin further said referring to the information obtained during primary interrogation.
