The suspected Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 737-800 hijacker, who was killed in a commando operation at Chattogram Shah Amanat InternationalAirporton on Sunday, was identified as Mohammad Palash Ahmed, 28, son of Pear Zahan and Renu Begum, hailed from Dudhghata village of Sonargaon upazila under Narayanganj district.
Initial investigation and criminal database records of RAB confirmed the man was indeed Palash Ahmed, who was arrested in 2012 by Rab-11 in a kidnapping case, said Maskur Hasan, assistant director Rab-7 (Media). The Independent found a copy of his passport. His passport number is BN 0950882 and birth date is January 01, 1991. The Independent also managed to get an affidavit copy of his marriage with Sanmoon Nahar Shimla, daughter of late Mia Abdul Mazed of Jhenaidah. The affidavit was signed on March 06, 2018.
Palash was the only son if his parents and second of their four siblings. He passed Dakhil examinations in 2011 from Tahirpur Dakhil Madrasa and then he got admitted to the Sonargaon Degree College, but he could not complete his education.
On Friday, he left his home for going to Dubai, said his father Pear Zahan.
Pear Zahan, who runs a grocery, was in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and returned from Saudi Arabia about two years ago.
Pear Zahan said that last time when he was leaving home on Friday, he told them he was going to Dubai. “He did not stay at home so long ago like the last time. He did not have any national identity but has passport.” His father said he did not know where Palash used to live in Dhaka and what his profession was.
Earlier, Palash had been sent to Malaysia and UAE but he returned from those countries without earning anything, said his father.
Sanmoon Nahar Shimla was the second wife of Palash. Earlier, he had married one Meghla. In his first marriage, he had a two-year-old son, Ayan. But he divorced his first wife and married Sanmoon Nahar Shimla. He and Sanmon Nahar Shimla were living in Dhaka and visited their home twice.
Mohammad Farhad, cousin of Palash, said “He produced short films and songs. I did not hear anything wrong about their conjugal life.” Dheen Mohammad, uncle of Palash, said he could not believe that Poalsh had committed such crime. “He was not involved with any extremist organisation and he was not accused in any cases in the local police station.”
Local Union Parishad Member Majubur Rahman Bhuiyan said, “Palash who was living in Dhaka did not come home regularly. He used to lead an indisciplined life. We heard that he had married an actress named Shimla.”
No claim for body, filing case underway The body of Palash Ahmed sent to the Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) on early Sunday. Police conducted the inquest report and doctors completed the autopsy report. But no one came to police or CMCH to claim his body.
Chattogram Patenga police station sub-inspector Suman Dey said, as no one claimed the body, it had been kept in the freezer till further decision.
Contacted, Kamrul Hasan, asisitant commissioner of Chattogram Metro Politan Police, said, “No one claimed the body so far. However, filing a case over the incident is under way.”
However, Pear Zahan, father of Palash, said The Independent, “We will not receive his body as he acted against the state.”
Single bullet hole, eight minute operation Palash Ahmed, the suspected Biman Hijacker, who was killed in eight minutes an army commando operation after an alleged attempt to hijack a Dubai-bound Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane from Dhaka after it made an emergency landing in Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport Sunday evening bore only a single-bullet hole at his chest.
Suman Dey, sub-inspector of Patenga Police Station, who prepared the inquest report, told The Independent, “I have found a single hole of bullet two inch above of his waist from front side and injury marks on two hands and two-sides of the chest”
“He said also the man is five feet and four inches. There are marks of injury at both sides of his chest. Dry blood stains on the left side of the rib,” said Sumon.
Though Chattogram Area Commander and Army 24th Infantry Division GOC Major General SM Matiur Rahman said the suspect was killed in an exchange of fire with the members of 1-Paracommando Battalion of Bangladesh Army during the commando operation at Chittagong airport, the sub-inspector of police who conducted the inquest report found only a sign of single bullet on his body.
No passenger, crew or member of the commando team were injured in the operation spearheaded by the 1-Paracommando Battalion of Bangladesh Army.
The aircraft was not damaged as the operation was carried out successfully with meticulous precision, he said. Lt Colonel Imrul led the operation, he added.
There is now speculation over the exchange of fire with the suspected hijacker. There is also another speculation whether the armed suspect, who attempted to hijack a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, had been carrying a toy pistol. In the social media people are asking if he had a toy pistol why was the man killed?
BK