Shocking Twist in Teknaf Murder Case

A Union Parishad (UP) member from Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf, who had been facing charges in a high-profile murder case, died under police custody while receiving treatment in hospital. The deceased, identified as 36-year-old Rezaul Karim, was undergoing treatment at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital when he passed away on Sunday at around 7:30am. The incident has sparked significant discussion in the locality due to the sensitive nature of the case and the history of the accused.

Rezaul Karim, son of the late Abul Kashem from Dargapara in Hnila Union, was the elected UP member of Ward No. 5. His name had appeared as a prime accused in the murder of former UP member Md Yunus, a case that has drawn widespread attention due to its links with alleged abduction and extortion demands.

According to Abu Zayed Md Najmun Nur, Officer-in-Charge of Teknaf Police Station, Rezaul was arrested on 4 December by members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the Union Hospital in Cox’s Bazar town, where he was reportedly undergoing treatment for respiratory complications and other chronic conditions. He was later handed over to Teknaf police, who continued his treatment under police custody due to his deteriorating health.

OC Nur explained that doctors at the Union Hospital later advised that Rezaul be transferred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for more advanced medical care. Despite receiving treatment there, Rezaul succumbed to his medical complications early on Sunday morning. “He was suffering from severe respiratory distress and multiple health issues. The doctors were treating him when his condition worsened,” the OC stated.

Police sources confirmed that Rezaul Karim had a lengthy criminal record, with at least 13 cases filed against him in Teknaf Police Station, including murder, extortion, and other serious allegations. His body has been kept at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, where legal procedures are currently underway. An autopsy is expected to determine the precise cause of death.

Family members, however, have not issued any statement regarding Rezaul’s death or the condition in which he was treated under custody. Their silence has raised further questions, although no formal complaint has yet been lodged.

The murder case in which Rezaul was implicated relates to the killing of former UP member Md Yunus. On 4 November, Yunus was allegedly abducted from Teknaf’s Subrang area and taken to the home of a man named Md Alam in Hnila’s Flower Dale neighbourhood. His family was reportedly contacted for ransom, with a demand of Tk 60–70 lakh in exchange for his release.

The following morning, on 5 November, police recovered Yunus’s body floating in a canal beneath a roadside embankment in Hnila’s Rangikhali area. The discovery shocked the local community and led to immediate legal action. On 6 November, Yunus’s wife filed a murder case with Teknaf Model Police Station, naming eight individuals directly and accusing a further seven to eight unknown suspects. Rezaul Karim was among those listed as accused in the case.

Rezaul’s death in police custody adds another complex layer to the ongoing murder investigation. Legal steps are underway, and authorities have stated that the case will proceed unaffected. Further inquiries into his death are expected in the coming days.