Dhaka: Police have arrested a bus driver and two staff members over the killing of a passenger, whose body was recovered from Dhaka's Banani area on Sept 4. The arrestees are bus driver Sohel Rana, 41, supervisor Saju alias Limon, 26, and helper Monir Hossain, 19, said a DMP press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the victim, identified as Ismail Hossain, 49, had left his home in Jamalpur carrying around Tk 5 lakh from a land sale and was traveling to Kashimpur in Gazipur. The man found dead on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway with his mouth taped shut was carrying the money his family said he was taking to Gazipur to help pay for his daughter's wedding.
CCTV footage from the elevated expressway led investigators to a passenger bus named Raj Classic. The bus was seized from Mohakhali Bus Terminal, and the three suspects were arrested in separate drives. According to police, the suspects noticed Ismail carrying a large amount of cash after he paid his fare. They allegedly restrained him with adhesive tape, sealed his mouth and nose, and strangled him with a towel after other passengers had been dropped off.
The suspects allegedly transported his body to Dhaka and dumped it between pillars 179 and 180 on the Kakoli-Kuril section of the elevated expressway before returning to Mohakhali. Police seized the bus, two towels, two bloodstained seat covers, and a feature phone allegedly linked to the crime. The three suspects have reportedly confessed to the killing during initial interrogation. A murder case has been filed with Banani Police Station.