8 July 3 AM, 2024
Sadarghat River Port, Dhaka
A soft drizzle sweeps over the dark waters at Buriganga River. Beggars, stray dogs to street urchins all lay sleeping scattered here and there along the empty pontoons and gangways. Apart from the dazzlingly lit up pontoon area and tiny dots of light of Keraniganj town standing opposite of the river port, all is dark. Gusty winds flowing from the north every now and then keeps pushing the stranded patches of water-weeds further south.
A lone boatman snoozes peacefully in his boat gently floating over the river. It is anchored with a tied-up rope. Only a meek humming coming out of a running generator from a small steamer anchored afar disturbs the silence of wee hours.
A moving shadow furtively appears and stops for a moment at pontoon number 12. Turns left and fast paces towards pontoon number 23.
It is the only pontoon where the lights and cc cameras are all switched off. It is the only pontoon without any regular night-time occupants lying in the floor. Security patrolling of the pontoon has been compromised for an hour. And it is the only planned pontoon for detailing out the assassination plot.
The walking shadow, a middle-aged man attired in a half sleeve shirt and Lungi brings out his mobile phone, presses a number giving a missed call and lit up a cigarette. He keeps staring on his left, in about 5 minutes he spots a slim and stout lad pacing fast towards his direction. His contact is here.
Both men get closer and begin to whisper in the dark.
"Mamun, are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes boss, but I need you to pay me half of the negotiated amount in advance now, and repeat the operation details once more."
"Okay...okay... You will collect the same 9 millimeter pistol from the clothing vendor who sits some 20 feet left to Omi's office entrance. I have forwarded your photo and name to the vendor yesterday. His name is Jibon. The magazine is loaded, except for one bullet which you had used to kill Raju in your last mission. But this time you will have to attach and fix a silencer to the gun.
You will only collect the gun right after the call for the early evening Maghrib prayers. Both pieces will be carefully wrapped up in between three different solid colour Polo T-shirts in a blue plastic bag. All three will bear size L in the main label..."
"But boss, sorry to interrupt. You showed me the vendor and location yesterday. It is too close to the nearby Motijheel Police Station. In case..."
"We have looked into the matter Mamun. There will be no constables, patrolling or duty officers near the clothing vendor from 6:45 till 7:15 PM. We have ensured that Omi enters office well before 6 PM. He will receive an urgent call from a friend at exactly 6:40 PM. As he comes down, he will see no one. He will then receive another phone call from the same friend and he will tell Omi to meet him at the Victoria Sporting Club. The club was closed down during an anti-casino raid five years ago, but our man at the club will keep it open. You will simply follow him. Omi will sit in a plastic chair facing the closed down reception lounge. You will enter exactly 2 minutes after him.
The gatekeeper will make sure where Omi will sit. His name is Huda. He will be standing in front of the main gate. Enter the club after Huda gives you a nod. Take position behind Omi. Unlike your previous mission not once, shoot him twice in the back of his head and from point-blank range. Take a photo with your mobile phone. Don't share it with anyone. Keep your mobile phone silent throughout the operation.
I will be waiting for you standing right in front of City Centre building. You will see a young beautiful woman in saree and glasses standing next to me. Handover your wrapped-up weapon in T-shirts kept in the blue plastic bag to her. In case, if there are other similar looking women in saree, call out the name Anika aloud, she will find you.
Next to that, I will take you to Hotel Purbani for a treat and clear rest of the payment. After we are done, a bike share rider standing in front of the hotel by the name of Sani in long-hair will drop you home. Now here you go."
The boss hands over a bundle of 50,000 Taka to Mamun. The assassin snatches it away and tucks inside his hip pocket. Humming of the running generator from the steamer anchored afar had stopped minutes ago.
A text message notification unexpectedly beeps at the boss's mobile phone.
It reads, both of you move closer to the river's edge.
Both men move forward and stands right on the edge facing the river.
A spray of bullets pierces through their bodies. Two separate splashes of falling are heard in the river. The boatman in slumber only wakes up to discover a big ripple in front of pontoon number 23.
Closed generator in the steamer anchored afar comes to life. Pontoon number 23 is lit up. CC cameras are switched on. An on-duty police blows his whistle standing at gangway number 9.
By then the drizzle fast turn into heavy drops. Two minutes later, a security guard rushes forward to check whether everything is in order at the pontoon bridge. There are no blood stains visible at pontoon number 23, however. A police jeep is heard exiting the car parking near the terminal building's VIP section.
Only a sleepless gecko sitting on top of the cc cameras witnessed what happened at pontoon number 23.
The writer is editorial chief , The Daily Observer
