Young leader stabbed to death 'over rivalry'

Police yesterday arrested the “murderer” and seized a knife in connection with the killing of a local Puja Udjapan committee leader in Chattogram city the night before.

The deceased, Bishu Kumar Dhar, 28, lived in South Kattoli area. He was stabbed to death while returning home after tutoring his students in Sagorika Shib Bari.

A postgraduate, he was treasurer of Pahartali thana Puja Udjapan Parishad.

Yesterday, police arrested Shimul Dhar, 30, alias Babu, and recovered the knife “he used in the killing”, said Md Quamrul Islam, additional deputy commissioner (ADC-west zone) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police.

Bishu was returning home by rickshaw when a person stopped him and stabbed him at around 9:00pm on Thursday, said Sadip Kumar Das, OC of Pahartali Police Station.

“During interrogation, the arrestee confessed to killing Bishu as he was angry with him over getting a post in the thana unit of the Puja Udjapan Parishad,” said the ADC,

adding, “Shimul was the general secretary of the previous committee of the parishad and tried to become its president this year.”

“Bishu's close friend Rajib became general secretary of the present committee, and due to strong opposition from Bishu and Rajib, Shimul could not be president,” the officer said. “So Shimul decided to take revenge and planned to kill Bishu.”

Contacted, Advocate Chandan Talukder, president of Chattogram city unit of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said Bishu was a good person. “He was elected treasurer of Pahartali thana unit of the Parishad this year.”