Businessman murdered in Dhaka

A businessman was stabbed to death at his home in Dhaka's Sabujbag area early yesterday, police said.

The deceased was identified as Abdullah Al Mahmud, 43, originally from Noakhali, said Abdul Kuddus Fakir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sabujbag Police Station.

On information from neighbours, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body, said the OC.

Hazera, a resident of the same building, said that upon hearing noises she came out of her apartment and saw one Rakib, in bloodstained clothes, hurriedly leaving the building. 

Rakib, 25, a youth from Laxmipur, once lived in the opposite building in the area.

“When I asked him what happened, he said that a scuffle took place upstairs, and left,” Hazera said. “I went upstairs to find Mahmud's apartment door open and his body in a pool of blood.”

Hazera quickly informed Mahmud's family members of the incident.

Mahmud had been living in Uttar Bashabo with his wife and two children since 2010, his younger brother Fazlul Haque told police.

His wife and children have been in Noakhali since December 11, Fazlul added.

Rakib was in good terms with Mahmud and his family members, Fazlul said, adding, although Rakib left the area in 2016, he never stopped contacting Mahmud.

"Rakib often visited Mahmud's home and even had dinner with him two days ago,” claimed Fazlul.

Meanwhile, Fazlul also informed Bahauddin Sohel, organising secretary of Subornachar Welfare Association, of which Mahmud was a member.  

“We saw the CCTV footage of Rakib running away. Police also obtained the footage,” Sohel said.

Mahmud helped many in Noakhali secure bank loans and had “financial transactions” with them. This might have got him killed, Sohel said. 

Meanwhile, Fazlul filed a case with Sabujbag Police Station in this regard.