RAB cites reasons behind 7 murders inside vessel

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said long time misbehavior by vessel’s master Golam Kibria and unpaid wages were behind the murders of seven people on MV Al Bakhera vessel in Chandpur.

The elite force today arrested one Akash Mandal Irfan from Chitalmari area of Bagerhat in connection with the murders. Akash is another crew member of MV Al Bakhera.

RAB-11 deputy director Major Mohammad Sakib Hossain disclosed the information at a press conference held at CPC-2 office of RAB-11 in Cumilla on Wednesday (December 25).

In primary interrogation, Akash gave confessional statement. He informed that long time misbehavior by vessel’s master Golam Kibria and unpaid wages forced him to take revenge.

Akash admitted that he went out to buy some goods for the vessel. Then he bought some sleeping pills from a market. To implement his plan, he mixed the sleeping pills with food made for supper without the cook’s knowledge. When the seven, including master Golam Kibria, fell unconscious, Akash hacked all of them with a Chinese axe which was always kept inside the vessel for their safety.

When the vessel was anchored on the Meghna River, Akash himself drove the trawler to the Haimchar area after confirming everyone’s death. Then he escaped in another trawler, Maj Sakib added.

Bag, mobile phone sets, a jeans pant with blood and other evidences were recovered from Akash, Maj Sakib said.

Earlier, a case was filed in connection with the recovery of seven bodies from a vessel, which was anchored on the Meghna River in Chandpur. On behalf of the vessel owners, Md Mahbub Morshed filed the case with Haimchar Police Station on Tuesday (December 24) night.

Ten unnamed people have been made accused in the seven-murder case. Nine people were made witnesses in the case.

Meanwhile, the seven bodies were handed over to the families on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, at around 3PM on Monday (December 23), five bodies were recovered from MV Al Bakhera, which was anchored on the Meghna River. Later, critically injured two died at Chandpur general hospital.

Six of deceased were identified as MV Al Bakhera master Kibria, driver Salauddin, helmsman Aminul Munshi, greaser Sajibul Islam, crewmen Azizul Munshi and Majedul Islam.