Police say a couple who met Mohammad Saifur Rahman Bhuiyan, the vice principal of Habibullah Bahar University College, at a railway station and later moved into his flat have “confessed” to killing him. The couple claims they endured “physical, mental, and sexual abuse” at his Uttarkhan residence, which led them to attack him with a machete in a fit of anger before fleeing.
However, Saifur Rahman’s brother, Lutfor Rahman, rejected these allegations and suspects other motives behind the murder. “It is unfair to tarnish my brother’s reputation like this. The real reasons behind his murder must be uncovered,” Lutfor said.
The vice principal was killed early Monday on the third floor of a six-story building in Puran Para under Uttarkhan Police Station. Lutfor filed a case over the killing, stating that Saifur had been renting the flat for three to four months while managing the construction of a house on his wife’s ancestral land in the area.
Md Najim Hossain, 21, and Rupa Begum, also known as Jannati, 23, were arrested by police from Faridpur Railway Station on Tuesday morning, within 12 hours of the murder. Police recovered two mobile phones, a key ring, and a bank Visa card from the suspects.
At a press briefing, Mahidul Islam, deputy commissioner of Uttara division police, stated that the couple confessed to the crime and alleged sexual abuse by the victim. “The suspects claim they met the vice principal at Kamalapur Railway Station two to three days before the incident. He took them to his Uttarkhan flat, where Jannati was later restrained and subjected to physical, mental, and sexual abuse,” he said. “In a fit of rage and desperation, they attacked Saifur Rahman with a sharp machete before fleeing. He died from excessive bleeding,” Islam added.
However, Lutfor denied the accusations and told bdnews24.com, “Police are deliberately avoiding one aspect of this case. My brother was involved in politics. He received the Komol Padak for education from Zia Shishu Academy last month. Police found the relevant documents in his home.”
“A dead man cannot defend himself. If this story were true, it could be made into a Dhaka movie. My brother had a history, and that must be considered,” he added. Lutfor also mentioned that he plans to hold a press conference soon to address the issue.
