Motijheel 'top terror' Bappi arrested

Police have arrested five people, including alleged shooter Tanim Reza, also known as Bappi, over accusations of extortion and a daylight shooting in Dhaka's Motijheel area.

According to police, Tanim Reza, 46, allegedly used foreign phone numbers to demand extortion money from business owners and threatened to kill those who refused to pay. Investigators also allege that he deployed armed associates to carry out shootings in broad daylight when his demands were not met.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre on Minto Road on Saturday, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Mohammad Osman Gani said that Tanim was arrested during a raid near Hotel Purbani at around 7:00 am on Friday. Four of his alleged associates were later arrested.

The other arrestees are Mohammad Jewel, 48, Shakil, 27, Manik Kazi, 50, and Rakibul Islam Bhuiyan, alias Rizon, 35. Police said they recovered three foreign-made firearms and seven rounds of ammunition from the suspects.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Saturday placed two suspects�"Md Tanim Reza, alias Bappi, 46, and Md Rakibul Islam Bhuiyan, alias Rizon, 35�"on a seven-day remand in an extortion case. Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam granted the remand after Motijheel Police Station Sub-Inspector Mominur Rahman, the investigating officer, sought seven days of custodial interrogation.