A wanted accused in a high-profile murder case in Kushtia’s Daulatpur has been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) while he was reportedly at a barber’s shop in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi district.
The arrested individual, Rajib Mistri (45), an accused in the murder case of Pir Abdul Rahman alias Shamim, was detained on Thursday night during a coordinated operation carried out by RAB-12 in collaboration with RAB-5. According to an official press release signed by Sudipto Sarkar, Company Commander of the Kushtia camp of RAB-12, Rajib is listed as the third named accused in the case. He hails from the Darogar Mor area of South-West Philipnagar village under Daulatpur upazila and works professionally as a carpenter.
RAB officials stated that Rajib had been absconding since the incident and had been under surveillance as part of a broader intelligence-led investigation. Following the murder, RAB initiated what it described as a “shadow investigation” to track down all listed suspects.
Arrest Operation Details
| Item |
Details |
| Name of accused |
Rajib Mistri |
| Age |
45 |
| Occupation |
Carpenter |
| Case |
Murder of Pir Abdul Rahman alias Shamim |
| Case location |
Daulatpur, Kushtia |
| Arrest location |
Godagari, Rajshahi |
| Arrest time |
Thursday night |
| Arresting units |
RAB-12 & RAB-5 |
| Status |
Named third accused |
| Next legal step |
Transfer to Daulatpur Police Station |
According to RAB sources, intelligence information indicated that Rajib was present near a salon on the Thana Road area of Godagari while waiting for a haircut. Acting on this tip-off, a joint team of RAB-12 and RAB-5 swiftly conducted an operation and apprehended him without incident. He is expected to be handed over to Daulatpur Police Station on Friday.
Investigators further revealed that Rajib had been moving between multiple locations since the incident. He was initially believed to have taken shelter in Pabna district before relocating to Rajshahi, where he stayed at a relative’s residence. During his time in hiding, he allegedly used multiple SIM cards and occasionally contacted family members through others’ mobile phones to avoid detection.
The murder case itself stems from a violent incident on 11 April, when Pir Abdul Rahman alias Shamim, a resident of South-West Philipnagar village, was allegedly attacked and killed following accusations that he had made derogatory remarks about the Holy Quran. A case was formally lodged on 13 April by the victim’s elder brother, Fazlur Rahman, at Daulatpur Police Station.
The First Information Report (FIR) names four individuals, including alleged mastermind and order-giver Muhammad Khaja Ahmed, a local Jamaat leader and former president of the district unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir. The other named accused are Md Asaduzzaman, president of Daulatpur upazila unit of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; Rajib Mistri; and Md Shihab of East Purbapara village in Islamnagar. In addition, between 180 and 200 unidentified individuals were also named in the case.
The arrest of Rajib marks the fourth detention in connection with the case as law enforcement agencies continue efforts to apprehend remaining suspects.
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