Youth League Leader Accuses Rival BNP Leader in Murder Plot
Police claim that a conflict between leaders of two allied organizations within the ruling BNP party over local dominance led to the murder of Yusuf Ali Parvez, a worker of the Jubo Dal (Youth League) in Mirpur, Dhaka. However, Hafizul Islam Babu, the member secretary of the Kafrul Thana Jubo Dal, rejected this, stating the motive was political enmity, not business disputes or extortion. Hafizul Islam made these claims at a press conference on Wednesday at the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Unity (CRAB) auditorium. He identified a Kafrul Thana BNP leader as the 'enemy' and alleged that the conflict stems from the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation election, specifically Hafizul's potential candidacy for councilor. Yusuf Ali was shot and killed last Friday night at a tea stall near Hafizul Islam's home in Mirpur 13, with two others injured. Police stated that Hafizul Islam was the intended target. Earlier, on Monday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) announced the arrest of eight individuals in connection with the murder. DMP Additional Commissioner (DB) Shofiqul Islam had stated that Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, joint convener of Kafrul Thana Swechchasebak Dal (Volunteer Party), and Hafizul Islam Babu had a long-standing dispute over local tenders for waste management, street vendor control, and property. This dispute, police claimed, led to the plan to kill Hafizul Islam. In response, Hafizul Islam asserted that Kafrul Thana BNP joint convener Sabbir Dewan Johnny orchestrated the plan to kill him due to his popularity and potential councilorship. Hafizul suspects Johnny is the financier but offered no proof, stating it's the state's responsibility. He presented photos of arrested individuals with Sabbir Dewan Johnny, questioning why Johnny hadn't been arrested or interrogated. Hafizul also addressed the police's mention of 'CNG Hafiz,' explaining that an illegal CNG garage was rented out, which was used for planning the assassination. The plan reportedly involved hiring four professional hitmen from outside Dhaka for 2.5 million Taka, with 'CNG Hafiz' overseeing its execution. Hafizul accused authorities of trying to divert the investigation to protect the main planner. Sabbir Dewan denied any involvement, stating he would surrender if police found evidence. He also defended the photos, saying they were taken before any alleged criminal activity. Hafizul denied any involvement in cable TV, internet, or street vendor extortion rackets in the area. Four defendants in the case have confessed their involvement in the murder before a court. Police stated that four professional shooters were hired from Magura and Jhenaidah for 2.5 million Taka to kill Hafizul Islam Babu, but the attack missed its intended target and resulted in Yusuf's death. Hafizul expressed concerns for his safety, believing the attack was part of a long-term plan to eliminate active leaders and consolidate power. He demanded a politically neutral investigation and the swift arrest of all planners and masterminds.
The incident highlights the complex interplay of political ambition, local power struggles, and organized crime within political factions. While police investigations often focus on immediate perpetrators and tangible motives like financial disputes, political figures like Hafizul Islam Babu assert that underlying political rivalries, particularly concerning electoral candidacies, are the true drivers of violence. This suggests a potential disconnect between law enforcement's framing of events and the deeper systemic issues of political competition and patronage networks that can incentivize such acts. The alleged hiring of professional hitmen for a substantial sum points to a concerning level of organization and resourcefulness within these conflicts, raising questions about accountability and the effectiveness of preventing such violence through traditional law enforcement alone. Future efforts may need to address the structural incentives that fuel these rivalries, alongside robust investigation and prosecution, to foster greater stability and deter politically motivated violence.
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