Customs official Bullet Bairagi was killed in a robbery while returning home to celebrate his wedding anniversary and his son's first birthday.
Bullet married Urmi Hira on April 22, 2022, and the couple observed their anniversary last Wednesday. However, he could not travel from Chattogram, where he had been undergoing training, to Cumilla. Their son, Abboy Bairagi, who was born in a rented house in Cumilla city, turned one on April 27.
According to family members, Bullet left Chattogram around 11:00pm on Friday to celebrate the occasions. He had planned to return early Sunday morning after attending his son's birthday. That plan remained unfulfilled.
He did return home-but as a body.
"In his son Abboy's memory, his father will remain only a photograph," a family member said.
Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said a gang posing as drivers and passengers carried out the killing. Five suspects were arrested from different areas of Cumilla on Sunday.
At a press briefing on Monday, RAB's Legal and Media Wing Director, Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury, said the suspects were detained during overnight raids. The arrestees are Imran Hossain Hridoy, 37; Mohammad Sohag, 30; Ismail Hossain Jony, 25; Mohammad Sujon, 32; and Rahatul Rahman Jewel, 27. Law enforcers also recovered a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, machetes and a switchgear knife from their possession.
According to RAB, the suspects had been waiting with an auto-rickshaw in the Jagurjhuli Bishwaroad area at night. Bullet reached the spot around 3:00am on Saturday while returning home. When he said he was heading to Jangalya, Sohag and Hridoy picked him up.
During the journey, Sohag, Jony and Hridoy attacked him with sharp weapons and robbed him of his mobile phone, cash and bag. A struggle ensued, and at one point, the assailants threw him from the moving auto-rickshaw. He died on the spot from severe injuries.
RAB said the suspects are members of an organised gang that targets long-distance passengers, robbing them at knifepoint.
Responding to a question, Wing Commander Intekhab said the suspects have multiple cases filed against them at different police stations, including theft, robbery and drug-related offences. Legal proceedings are underway.
Family sources said Bullet had spoken with his relatives several times when he was close to home, but never made it back.
