Summary:
- Seven people were brutally murdered aboard the MV Al Bakhera cargo vessel in Chandpur’s Meghna River, with robbery suspected as a motive.
- RAB-11 arrested suspect Akash Mandal Irfan in Bagerhat, linking him to the murders through forensic evidence, including fingerprints on a blood-stained axe.
- A case has been filed against ten unidentified individuals, and authorities recovered weapons, phones, and cash from the crime scene.
- Three investigation committees have been formed to uncover the motive and ensure justice for the shocking killings.
In a major breakthrough, law enforcement authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the shocking murder of seven individuals aboard the MV Al Bakhera, a fertilizer-laden cargo vessel anchored in the Meghna River in Chandpur. The suspect, identified as Akash Mandal, also known as Irfan, was apprehended by RAB-11 during a raid in the Chitalmari area of Bagerhat district on Wednesday morning.
RAB-11’s Media Officer, Tarek, confirmed the arrest and revealed that Irfan had been on the run since the gruesome incident. “Based on forensic evidence, including fingerprints found on a blood-stained Chinese axe recovered from the crime scene, we were able to track and detain him,” Tarek stated. Irfan is believed to have been the ninth individual aboard the vessel at the time of the murders. He has been taken to RAB-11’s office in Cumilla for further interrogation, with a detailed briefing scheduled later in the day.
The horrific event came to light on Monday afternoon when five bloodied bodies were discovered on the MV Al Bakhera near Majherchar in Chandpur. Three other crew members were found critically injured and rushed to a local hospital, where two succumbed to their injuries. The sole survivor was transferred to Dhaka for advanced medical care. Authorities suspect that robbery may have been a motive behind the attack.
On Tuesday night, a case was filed at Haimchar Police Station against ten unidentified individuals under charges of murder and robbery. The case was lodged by Md. Mahabub Morshed on behalf of the vessel owners. Chandpur’s River Police Superintendent, Syed Mushfiqur Rahman, disclosed that investigators recovered several items from the crime scene, including a blood-stained axe, a knife, two smartphones, two feature phones, a wallet, and cash amounting to 8,000 Bangladeshi taka.
The Ministry of Industries, along with local administration and police authorities, has formed three separate investigation committees to uncover the mystery behind this heinous crime. The committees are tasked with probing all possible angles, including security lapses and motives for such an unprecedented act of violence.
The murders have sent shockwaves through the region’s riverine communities and raised concerns over safety aboard cargo vessels operating in Bangladesh’s waterways. As investigations continue, authorities are determined to bring all perpetrators to justice and ensure such tragedies are prevented in the future.
Source: Kalbela
