Teacher Murder: Prime accused led teen gang in his locality

The prime accused in the Ashulia teacher murder case, Ashraful Ahsan Jitu, was the leader of a local teen gang, said Rab.

If anyone complained against him to his family, he would threaten, intimidate, or attack the complainant.

Besides, Jitu, known as "Jitu Dada" to his gang members, used to arrange showdowns in his locality to create panic.

Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director (legal and media wing) of Rab, shared this at a press conference yesterday after arresting Jitu from Gazipur's Sreepur area on Wednesday.

Jitu, a class-10 student of Haji Yunus Ali School and College in Ashulia, bludgeoned teacher Utpal Kumar Sarker with a cricket stump on June 25, he said.

"He used to smoke in front of everyone on the school premises, tease students, come to school without uniform and ride a motorcycle recklessly," the official added.

The deceased teacher was the chairman of the disciplinary committee of the school and used to motivate and guide students at different times on various issues.

A few days before the incident, Utpal warned Jitu about being intimate with a girl on the college compound. Jitu got angry over the warning and planned to attack him, said Rab.

Jitu then brought a cricket stump to the school on June 25 and attacked Utpal when he was standing in a corner of the playground during a cricket tournament, Rab added.

Yesterday, a Dhaka court placed Jitu on a five-day remand. No lawyer represented him at that time.

On Wednesday, his father Ujjal Hossain was also put on a five-day remand in the case.

Meanwhile, protests continued in Savar, demanding a quick trial of Jitu to ensure justice for the victim.

Around 10:30am, hundreds of teachers and students from various institutions held a human chain near Savar Upazila Parishad Gate on Dhaka-Aricha Highway.

This paper had earlier refrained from naming the student as his age was mentioned as 16 in the first information report.

However, it is publishing his name and photo as his age was revealed to be over 19 on Wednesday.

At the press conference yesterday, Rab also cited his birth certificate and registration documents for the Junior Dakhil exam, saying Jitu was more than 19 years old.