Alleged shooter placed on remand over Jubo Dal leader’s murder in Ctg

A Chattogram court on Tuesday placed an alleged shooter on a two-day remand in connection with the murder of Jubo Dal leader Masudul Haque Chowdhury in Raozan upazila of the district last month.

Judicial Magistrate Shakhawat Hossain passed the order after a hearing.

The accused, Md Ilias, widely known as "Dhama Ilias", is allegedly a follower of listed criminal Sajjad Hossain, alias Chhoto Sajjad.

According to investigators, Ilias was seen carrying a firearm in a CCTV footage recorded at the scene of the attack. Police records show, he is accused in 18 criminal cases including the five filed for murder.

Chattogram court police outpost Inspector Habibur Rahman said police arrested Ilias from Dhaka on Monday and produced him before the court on Tuesday.

The court later granted a two-day remand for questioning, he said.

Jubo Dal leader Masudul was shot dead in broad daylight at Chowmuhani Bazar in Pahartali union of Raozan upazila in Chattogram district on 13 June.

He was the senior joint convener of Rangunia Upazila Jubo Dal. Masudul had been preparing to contest the upcoming union parishad elections.

Police believe the killing was linked to a dispute over control of sand extraction from the Karnaphuli River.

Two days after the murder, a case was filed with the Raozan Police Station against 11 identified persons, including Ilias.

Notably, since the political shift on 5 August 2024, over 20 BNP, Juba Dal, and Chhatra Dal activists have been killed in Raozan alone in factional clashes over establishing unauthorised supremacy, mostly over the sand-lifting trades.