Extramarital affair led to killing: Rab

The murder of readymade garment worker Azharul Islam, whose dismembered body was recovered from septic tank of a mosque in the capital's Dakshinkhan on Tuesday, was preplanned.

His wife Asma Akter conspired the murder with the Dakshinkhan Sardar Para Mosque Imam Abdur Rahman, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) said yesterday.

Rab arrested Abdur on Tuesday morning, and collecting information from him, recovered the body of Azharul (30) .from the tank.

Later, Rab have also arrested Asma on charge of the murder.

While addressing reporters, Commander Khandaker Al Moin, legal and media wing director of Rab, said the murder took place due to extramarital affair between the imam and victim's wife.

Rab said in January year, Abdur used to visit the victim's home and teach Arabic to Azharul and his son.

At one point, Abdur engaged into a relationship with Asma.

Azharul came to know about their relationship in March, and asked the Imam for not to come to his home anymore, said the Rab official.

But the relationship continued between them, and in late March, Asma and Abdur plotted to kill Azharul, said Moin.

At first, the plan was to kill Azharul by hiring someone, but Asma later advised the imam to kill Azharul in his room, he said.

Abdur even bought a SIM card and gave it secretly to Asma so that they can discuss about their murder plan. Their plan was to kill Azharul seven days before Ramadan but the plan was foiled as the victim fell sick and went to village home in Tangail, said the Rab official.

Finally on May 18, as per the plan, Asma sent his husband Azharul to Dhaka from Tangail. The next day, the Imam called on Azharul's cell phone and asked him to meet at the mosque.

After Azharul went to meet Abdur after sunset, he asked the victim to go his room and rest, saying he is coming shortly after Esha prayers, said Commander Moin.

Later in his room, Abdur attacked Azharul with a machete kept in the room, cut his body into six pieces and dumped it in the septic tank before Fazr prayers, said Moin.

On May 25, locals informed the elite force after odour started coming from the area. Rab then started shadow investigation and learned about Azharul's disappearance.

Following further investigation, Rab arrested Abdur and recovered the body.

The victim's younger brother Md Hasan filed a case with Dakhshinkhan Police Station on Tuesday night.

Commander Moin said Abdur called Asma before and after the killing to inform her how the murder was conducted.

In primary interrogation, Abdur also admitted to the murder, the official said.

COURT PUTS TWO ACCUSED ON FIVE-DAY REMAND

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday placed Abdur Rahman and Asma on five-day remand in the case filed over the death of Azharul.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nivana Khair Jesi passed the order after Investigation Officer Anuj Kumar Sardar, also a sub-inspector of Dakshinkhan Police Station, produced the duo before the court with a 10-day remand prayer, court sources said.