Even after five months of the mysterious death of Al Mukkabir Islam Arnob in the capital's Dhanmondi area, the investigation into the case has seen no significant progress, with police citing delays in receiving the autopsy report.
Meanwhile, Arnob's family alleges that he was murdered as part of a pre-planned plot over a property dispute. However, investigators stated that initial findings suggest Arnob died by suicide, though definitive conclusions can only be drawn after the investigation is fully complete.
The family claims that police have yet to interrogate any of the crucial witnesses in the case, noting that the investigating officer has already sought time extensions on three separate occasions.
Arnab’s mother, Halima Khatun, said, "It has been months, but we still see no progress toward justice. All the accused against whom we filed charges are out on bail, yet the police haven't questioned a single witness from the case."
Reports indicate that several questions still surround Arnob’s death. Following his demise, the family filed a murder case, which is currently being investigated by the police. However, relatives have alleged from the beginning that a dispute over property worth hundreds of crores of taka lies behind his death. Halima Khatun claims that Arnob’s uncles and aunts orchestrated his murder to usurp the vast estate left behind by his late father.
According to the family, just two days before his death, Arnob informed his aunt and mother that his uncle was subjecting him to mental torture. His uncle, Osman Goni, and aunt Masuda Begum reportedly visited Arnob's residence, labeled him mentally unstable, and pressured him to consult a doctor of their choosing. Sensing a plan to forcibly abduct him, Arnob managed to leave the house under the pretext of buying cigarettes and took refuge at his aunt Shahnaz Begum's residence, where he recounted the entire ordeal.
Relatives claim that following the death of his father, Arnob naturally sought to take control of his ancestral property worth hundreds of crores. This led to sharp disagreements with his paternal uncles, Osman Goni, Zahed Mia, and Harun, who allegedly obstructed him from selling or utilizing his paternal assets. The family alleges that the planned murder was staged as a suicide to cover up the crime and evade legal accountability.
On May 2, Arnob (34) died under mysterious circumstances after falling from the roof of an 11-story building on Road 11 in Dhanmondi. Police reported that he fell from the rooftop near the elevator machine room and died on the spot.
Initially, an unnatural death case was filed. However, on May 21, Halima Khatun filed a murder case with the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court accusing 12 individuals, including three of Arnob's uncles and aunts. The complaint described the incident not as a mere accident or suicide, but as a calculated murder. The primary accused include uncle Osman Goni Bhuiyan (68) and his wife Masuda Begum Maya (70), along with another uncle Zahed Bhuiyan (72) and his wife Senuara Begum Renu (62).
The case statement outlines that ever since the death of Rafiqul Islam, a bitter dispute had persisted within the family over his extensive estate. The accused allegedly worked together to maintain sole control over the properties, repeatedly blocking Arnob from enjoying, selling, or transferring his ancestral assets. His freedom of movement and decision-making rights were allegedly restricted. Fearing the loss of control over the property, the accused allegedly finalized a plot to eliminate him.
The complaint further alleges that attempts were made to administer sleeping pills or sedatives to Arnob through domestic workers, and that his murder was the culmination of this systematic conspiracy, subsequently framed as a suicide to conceal the truth.
Investigations reveal that Arnob’s father, Rafiqul Islam, was a former Additional Director General of the Department of Immigration and Passports. His properties include flats in Dhanmondi's Road 8/A and Road 32, a multi-million-taka apartment in Segunbagicha, a flat in Uttara, and a 5-story building in Malibagh's Mirbagh.
Additionally, his assets feature the Rafiqul Islam School and College in Jatrabari, Umed Ali Bhuiyan High School on 10 acres of land in Kishoreganj's Akubpur, and the Rafiqul Islam College on 2.5 acres in Nilganj. Beyond these educational institutions, he owned nearly 100 acres of agricultural land and a farmhouse in Kishoreganj's Khaliajuri, 20 acres of land and a duplex house in Tarail upazila, and 10 decimals of land in Kishoreganj town.
Before his death, Arnob told his mother and aunt that his uncles Osman, Zahed, and Jhorna had seized control of all properties following his father's death in 2017. For two years, he was subjected to constant threats, insults, and insecurity. He reportedly wished to start his own business. The night before his death on Friday at 10:00 PM, he called his mother saying, "Mother, let us move out of the country." His mother stated, "My son was murdered in cold blood; why would a healthy young man commit suicide? I want a proper investigation. Interrogating domestic workers Jestina Mrong and Tanzila Begum, along with uncle Osman Goni, will bring out the truth. Slow poison or sedatives might have been mixed into his food."
Investigating officer and Dhanmondi Police Station Sub-Inspector Abdul Karim declined to comment on the matter.
Regarding the case, Dhanmondi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Imdadul Islam Taiyab stated, "The footage we have obtained shows he was alone. No one else was beside him when he jumped from the roof. We have found evidence of the property dispute between him and his uncles during our investigation. However, whether this is a murder or suicide cannot be confirmed yet. A definitive statement can be made once the investigation report is received."
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Staff Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
