DB overturns RAB's claim by arresting two new suspects

Detectives (DB) have claimed that the death of headmistress Ranjila Parveen on a Dhaka road was caused by two newly arrested "muggers," rather than those previously apprehended by RAB.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch announced that the arrestees, Khokon and Rajib Matabbar, confessed to the crime. Based on their information, police recovered the bag snatched from Ranjila Parveen.

During the press conference, DMP Additional Commissioner (Detective) Md. Shafiqul Islam said that the three individuals arrested by RAB were not involved in Ranjila's death.

Ranjila Parveen, 56, was the headmistress of Bagbari Government Girls' Primary School in Gabtali Upazila, Bogura. She hailed from Torafsortaj village in the same upazila.

Ranjila had arrived in Dhaka on August 29 with her husband, Abdul Matin, for medical treatment on her eyes. After getting off a bus in Kalyanpur early in the morning, they were taking a rickshaw to Islamia Eye Hospital in Farmgate when they were targeted by muggers on Manik Mia Avenue.

According to Abdul Matin, two muggers on a motorcycle yanked Ranjila's bag in front of the South Plaza of the National Parliament building, causing her to fall from the moving rickshaw.

Although she was rushed to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries. Abdul Matin subsequently filed a murder case against two unidentified muggers at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The following day, RAB claimed to have arrested the two muggers and recovered the motorcycle used in the crime, later arresting a third suspect. However, doubts arose when the statements of the detainees and the color of the seized motorcycle did not match the video footage from CCTV cameras.

Two weeks later, the police have claimed to arrest the "actual" muggers.

Ranjila's Bag Recovered

Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said that officers identified the muggers by analyzing CCTV footage and intelligence data. Drives were then conducted in various areas, including Dhaka and Savar, leading to the arrests of Khokon and Rajib.

According to police, Rajib was driving the motorcycle while Khokon was riding pillion and grabbed Ranjila's bag. Khokon admitted to this during questioning.

Based on Khokon's confession, DB police recovered Ranjila's bag from the Borobag area of Mirpur Police Station. The bag contained her clothes, a ticket stub, a spectacle case, and some medicine. Ranjila's mobile phone was later recovered from the Mirpur-1 area.

Rajib was arrested at Birulia, Savar. The motorcycle used during the incident was recovered from the Diabari area based on information he provided, according to Detective Chief Shafiqul.
DB also reported recovering 622 Yaba tablets from Rajib. Shafiqul Islam said Rajib faces eight cases involving charges of weapons, robbery, theft, and brawling, while Khokon faces three narcotics cases.

Presenting them as the actual perpetrators, Shafiqul Islam said that Ranjila's bag, mobile phone, clothing, medication, and ticket stubs were among various pieces of evidence recovered, adding that matching this evidence with the video footage clearly clarifies the crime situation.

DB mentioned that Ranjila's husband had caught a brief glimpse of the mugger during the incident and shared the physical description he remembered with investigators after his wife passed away. According to DB, he identified Khokon following the arrest.

Shafiqul Islam noted that RAB had previously claimed to recover a motorcycle used in the mugging, but comparing it with CCTV footage revealed discrepancies. The color of the motorcycle seen in the video footage differed from the one recovered by RAB.

RAB had also claimed that the motorcycle they seized was rented. However, DB clarified that the motorcycle used in the incident actually belongs to Rajib and was not rented. Along with the motorcycle, DB recovered the shirt Khokon wore during the incident, his wristwatch, and his cap.

Shafiqul Islam said after interrogating the three individuals arrested by RAB and analyzing subsequent data and evidence, no connection was found between them and Ranjila's death.

The day after the incident, RAB claimed to have arrested two muggers—Mosharraf Hossain alias Poni Gazi and his associate Cedric—and recovered the motorcycle used in the mugging. Later, another individual named Rakib was also arrested. During RAB's press conference at the time, Mosharraf Hossain Poni shouted out that he was not involved in the incident.

DB official Shafiqul explained that among the individuals arrested by RAB, one had 12 cases against him, and the others also faced various charges. He added that while they will be dropped from the Ranjila murder case, legal proceedings regarding their other cases will continue.