Businessman killed in Lalbagh, body recovered from buried site

Police recovered the body of a businessman from beneath the soil beside a room on the ground floor of a five-storey building in Lalbagh, Dhaka, on Friday morning.

The deceased was identified as Sheikh Wasim Roni, 43. Police suspect he was killed over a dispute involving Tk 300,000 borrowed at interest.

Police launched an operation at the building on BC Das Street around 11:30 PM on Thursday. After several hours of digging, they recovered Wasim’s body from the soil beside the ground-floor room around 5:30 AM on Friday. The body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Lalbagh police detained Mohammad Masum Chowdhury in connection with the incident. Members of the Criminal Investigation Department’s crime scene unit and the Detective Branch were also present at the scene.

According to relatives, Wasim was a businessman, while Masum ran a wholesale imitation jewellery business in the building where the body was recovered.

Masum’s brother-in-law said Masum had borrowed Tk 300,000 from Wasim around eight months ago and was supposed to pay Tk 35,000 in interest every month. A dispute later developed over repayment of the loan.

He said Wasim went to Masum’s business premises on September 8 to demand repayment. An argument broke out, followed by a scuffle during which Masum allegedly punched Wasim in the head. Wasim subsequently fell unconscious, he claimed.

The brother-in-law said he later learned from police that Wasim had been buried in the soil beside the building after losing consciousness.

Wasim’s brother-in-law Murad Hossain said the family last contacted him on September 8. They had learned that he was supposed to receive a cheque for repayment of the Tk 300,000 that day.

Murad said Wasim’s mobile phone had been switched off since the afternoon of September 8. After failing to locate him, the family contacted people connected to him and visited Masum’s home. Masum’s wife reportedly said Wasim had visited the house but had later left.

The family subsequently lodged a missing-person complaint with Lalbagh police. During the investigation, police learned that Wasim had allegedly been buried beside the building.

Murad alleged that eight sacks of soil had been brought to conceal the body. He demanded justice and the highest punishment for those responsible.

Relatives also alleged that Wasim’s hands and feet had been tied before he was buried. However, the exact cause and manner of death will be established through the autopsy and investigation.

Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman confirmed the recovery and said police had detained Masum Chowdhury. He said investigators were examining the motive, whether others were involved and the circumstances of the death. Legal proceedings are under way.

sks