The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested seven people, thought to be hired professional killers, over the attack on National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Jahangir Hossain Howlader. The arrestees were identified as Bilob, Salauddihn, Titu, Mizan, Rahim, Julhash and Akbar. According to sources in DB, five of the arrestees have already given confessional statement over the murder attempt. Except Julhash and Akbar, the five others were sent to jail by a court after recording their confessional statements. Jahangir Hossain Howlader, a member of NBR, was shot and injured by some unidentified criminals at the Banani Customs House in the capital on March 23 evening. Talking to The Independent, Deputy Commissioner (DB) of Police Mahbubur Rahman said, “We arrested the professional killers from different parts of the city including Uttara, Kuril and Demra areas recently.” “We became certain that the arrestees were hired professional killers,” he said, adding that one of the arrestees named Rahim was released from jail after serving seventeen years and another, Bilpob, had served ten years. While the police are yet to confirm the exact reason behind the attack on Jahangir, they have ruled out any personal enmity as the cause of the attack. “There is possibly some other ‘undisclosed reasons’ behind the attack,” the DB official said. During primary interrogation, the five arrestees admitted that they were taking preparations for more than three months to murder Jahangir. They were following him at his residence, office and even maintained watch over his official movement, said police. Inspector Enamul Haque, the investigation officer of the case, said the mastermind who wanted to kill the NBR official engaged the hired goons and fed them false information. The hired killers were told that Jahangir was a private service holder and was sexually harassing his female colleagues at office.   
Meanwhile, NBR official Jahangir could not be reached for comment. After getting shot by criminals, he was admitted to United Hospital in the capital and he is still recovering, said family members.
The victim’s son Moshiur Rahman, who filed a case over the attack, said police have advised them not to discuss matters relating to the attack with the media as the police are yet to arrest the mastermind.