Dhaka: The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested two individuals allegedly involved in the bag-snatching incident that led to the death of a government primary school headteacher near the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. They clarified that two suspects earlier arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were not involved in the case.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the arrestees have been identified as Khokon and Rajib Matbar. DMP Additional Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam announced on Wednesday that the suspects were apprehended in separate operations. Authorities recovered the motorcycle allegedly used in the incident, the victim's bag, and mobile phone, along with other evidence from them.
During a briefing at the DMP Media Centre, Shafiqul Islam stated that the individuals previously arrested and the motorcycle recovered by RAB were unrelated to this case. The incident involved Ranjina Parvin, headteacher of Bagbari Balika Government Primary School in Bogura, who died on August 29 after falling from a rickshaw during an attempted bag snatching near the South Plaza of the Parliament Complex.
Police reported that Parvin had traveled to Dhaka from Bogura for medical treatment. Around 6:30 am, two individuals on a motorbike allegedly attempted to snatch her bag while she was on a rickshaw, resulting in her fall and severe head injury. She was declared dead at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
Her spouse, Mohammad Abdul Matin, filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station against unidentified persons. Shafiqul detailed that teams from the Tejgaon division and DB collected information from the scene and examined CCTV footage following the incident. After gathering intelligence and identifying the suspects, operations were conducted in Dhaka, Savar, and other areas.
Khokon was first apprehended in Monipur Westpara, Mirpur. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to being the pillion rider on the motorcycle and snatching Ranjina's bag. His information led to the recovery of the bag in the Borobagh area of Mirpur, containing her clothing, part of a ticket, a spectacle case, and some medicines. Her mobile phone was later retrieved from Mirpur-1.
Rajib was subsequently arrested in the Birulia area of Savar, near the capital. The DB reported that Rajib was operating the motorcycle during the incident. Information from him led to the recovery of the motorcycle in the Diabari area of the capital. Additionally, 622 Yaba tablets were found in Rajib's possession.
The DB stated that Rajib faces eight cases on various charges, while Khokon is involved in three drug-related cases. Shafiqul mentioned that the DB is probing whether the two were solely involved in this incident or part of a habitual snatching group, and if they were linked to other incidents in Dhaka.
Regarding the two individuals earlier arrested by RAB, Shafiqul explained that they belonged to a different group residing in Tejturipara, whereas the newly arrested suspects lived in West Monipur. He added that the previous arrestees had been questioned, and evidence confirmed their non-involvement in Ranjina's death.
Shafiqul elaborated that arresting and interrogating suspects is part of an investigation, and those found uninvolved are excluded from the case, although they may remain in custody for other legal proceedings. Addressing the discrepancy over the motorcycle, he stated that the one recovered by RAB differed in color from that seen in CCTV footage. The newly arrested suspects confessed that the motorcycle recovered by DB was used in the incident; it belonged to Rajib and was not rented.
The DB also retrieved Khokon's shirt, wristwatch, and cap allegedly worn during the incident. Shafiqul confirmed that the victim's bag, mobile phone, clothes, medicines, and ticket were crucial evidence being matched with CCTV footage. Ranjina's husband briefly saw the snatcher during the incident and later recognized him after her death. He identified the person who was riding pillion, as per the DB official.