Four Arrested in Shahbagh Killing

Police have arrested four individuals in connection with the killing of content creator Rakibul Islam in the Shahbagh area of Dhaka, authorities confirmed on Wednesday morning. The development was announced in an official statement signed by Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

According to the statement, a press briefing scheduled for early afternoon at the police media centre to disclose further details was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. Officials indicated that comprehensive information regarding the arrests and the ongoing investigation would be released at a later stage.

The fatal incident occurred on Sunday evening at approximately 9:15 pm on the steps of the Central Shaheed Minar, a prominent cultural landmark in the capital. Witnesses reported that Rakibul Islam had been socialising with friends when a group of—young men—suddenly approached and opened fire on him. Following the shooting, the assailants reportedly launched a brutal knife attack before fleeing the scene, leaving the victim critically injured.

Members of the public present at the site acted swiftly and managed to apprehend one of the attackers, who was later handed over to Shahbagh Police Station along with a machete believed to have been used in the assault. This arrest subsequently led investigators to identify and detain three additional suspects.

Preliminary findings by law enforcement suggest that the—killing—was premeditated and motivated by a romantic dispute. Investigators believe that between seven and eight —individuals—were involved in the attack, and that several of them had been brought into Dhaka from another area specifically to carry out the —planned—assault.

Rakibul Islam hailed from Bhola Sadar and was a second-year undergraduate student at Borhanuddin Postgraduate College. His father, Tarikul Islam Khokon, is employed at Kuwait Maitree Hall of University of Dhaka. Family sources described Rakibul as a creative young—individual—who had built a modest following through digital content creation.

Police officials confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, with efforts intensified to locate and arrest all those implicated. Authorities have also reiterated their commitment to ensuring accountability and maintaining public safety in densely populated urban areas.

Incident Overview

The —incident—has sparked concern among residents, with renewed calls for enhanced surveillance and stricter security measures in key public spaces across the capital.