Jagannath University student and Chhatra Dal leader Zobayed Hossain was killed while going to tutor a female student at a house named ‘Raushan Villa’ on Noorbox Lane in Armanitola, Old Dhaka. According to preliminary investigations, police suspect that Zobayed was murdered over a love-related dispute involving the student.
Sources said the incident occurred around 4:45 pm on Sunday on the third floor of the house. Bloodstains were found on the staircase from the ground floor to the third floor, where Zobayed’s body was discovered. Later, at 10:50 pm, the body was sent to Midford Hospital for autopsy. By 11:00 pm, the student was taken from her house to the police station for questioning.
During preliminary questioning, the student stated that Zobayed Hossain was killed due to a love-related dispute involving her boyfriend, Mahir Rahman. However, she denied having any direct involvement in Zobayed’s murder.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rafiqul Islam of Banshal Police Station briefed journalists on Monday after the student’s preliminary interrogation. He said the student had been in a nine-year-long romantic relationship with Mahir Rahman. Mahir is a first-year student at Burhan Uddin College, while the girl is a second-year student at Dhaka Mohanagar Women’s College. The two have known each other since childhood as neighbors.
According to OC Rafiqul Islam, tensions had recently arisen in their relationship, and after their breakup, the girl told Mahir that she liked Zobayed. Enraged by this, Mahir, along with his friend Nafis, allegedly killed Zobayed.
The OC clarified that although the student liked Zobayed, there was no romantic relationship between them. There was also no evidence of close communication or intimate messages. Preliminary findings suggest the incident primarily stemmed from her fallout with Mahir.
During the interrogation, it was revealed that the student got to know Zobayed’s friend Saikat on Facebook. However, there was no other relationship between them. She learned about Zobayed’s death from Saikat.
The OC added that the student appeared calm and composed throughout questioning, showing no signs of distress or nervousness. Police are conducting a more in-depth investigation, and further details will be released later.
Zobayed Hossain, a 2019–20 student of the Statistics Department at Jagannath University, was also the president of the Comilla District Student Welfare Association and a member of the Chhatra Dal convening committee at the university.
Following the murder, students staged protests outside Banshal Police Station on Sunday night, setting fires and blocking the Tanti Bazar intersection, demanding swift justice and the arrest of those involved.
Police have stated that operations are underway to apprehend the main accused, Mahir Rahman, and his friend Nafis.