Suspect Confesses to Fatal Assault on Dhaka Lawyer

In a significant breakthrough for the investigation into the death of legal practitioner Naim Kibria, a primary suspect has provided a formal judicial confession detailing the brutal assault. On Monday, Mohammad Zobayer Hossain, 29, was produced before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, where Magistrate Jewel Rana recorded his statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Zobayer was apprehended by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-1) from the Gulshan area on 4 January, following the discovery of the victim's body in the Bashundhara Residential Area.

The victim, Naim Kibria, was a member of the Pabna District Judge’s Court. According to the investigation officer, Inspector Mohammad Mehedi Hasan of Bhatara Police Station, the incident was sparked by a minor traffic altercation. It is alleged that Kibria’s private car struck a motorcycle, after which he failed to stop. This triggered a violent pursuit by several men on motorbikes through the streets of Bashundhara.

Details of the Confession and Evidence

Court proceedings revealed that CCTV footage played a vital role in identifying the culprits. The footage reportedly shows Zobayer and his accomplices chasing Kibria’s vehicle on multiple motorcycles. Upon reaching the entrance of Road 7 in Block I, the group formed a barricade, forcing the lawyer to exit his vehicle.

The prosecution, represented by Advocate Shamsuddoha Suman, detailed a two-stage assault that ultimately proved fatal:

Judicial Proceedings and Investigation

The investigation suggests that after the first round of violence, Kibria was abducted and taken to a secluded spot near Road 15, where the assault was intensified. His cousin, Rakibul Islam, eventually discovered him in a critical condition at approximately 10:45 pm and rushed him to Kurmitola General Hospital, where attending physicians pronounced him dead on arrival.

A murder case was formally filed on 1 January by the victim's father, Golam Kibria. During his confession, Zobayer admitted to his active participation in the mob violence. The court has denied bail, citing the risk of the suspect absconding, while police continue their search for the remaining seven to eight unidentified individuals involved in the lynching. This case has sparked renewed calls for better security and the prevention of mob justice within the capital's residential hubs.