The murder case of Awami League MP Anwarul Azim Anwar in Kolkata remains in the headlines, now being investigated by Bengal CID. However, a sensational disclosure in the case reveals that the murder was orchestrated by his childhood friend and business partner.
According to Dhaka Tribune, the Bangladeshi police claim that Akhtaruzzaman Shahin, the childhood friend and business partner of MP Anwarul, is the main conspirator. Anwarul's another friend, Amanullah Aman, played a role in this murder.
Police say that Shahin traveled to Kolkata to plot the murder of MP Anwarul, returning to Bangladesh afterwards. Eventually, Aman along with six individuals suffocated Anwarul with a pillow and dismembered his body, hiding it in a trolley bag and discarding it at an undisclosed location.
Sources connected to the investigation disclosed that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch unearthed this murder conspiracy. Three individuals have been arrested in relation to the murder charges so far.
Anwarul's daughter Mumtarin Ferdous Dorin filed a murder case on Wednesday at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Meanwhile, preparations were underway to file a separate case in Kolkata, where the police had arrested a car driver transporting the pieces of Anwarul's corpse.
How was the MP's murder plotted?
Akhtaruzzaman Shahin, hailing from Jhenaidah, allegedly plotted the murder due to business grudges. A dual citizen of the United States, his brother is the mayor of Kotchandpur municipality in Jhenaidah – the very constituency Anwarul represented as an MP.
Shahin, accompanied by Aman and a female friend Selistar Rahman, traveled to Kolkata on April 30th. They rented a duplex in Sanjiba Garden where Shahin's associates, Siam and Jihad, were already present. Together, they hatched the murder plan.
Upon returning to Bangladesh on May 10th, Shahin left the responsibility of executing the murder to Aman. As per the plan, Aman then summoned two hitmen from Bangladesh to Kolkata. Faisal Shazi and Mustafiz joined the conspiracy, arriving in Kolkata on May 11th.
How was the MP murdered?
Intelligence officers reveal that Shahin knew in advance of Anwarul's trip to Kolkata on May 12th. He instructed Aman to prepare for the murder, purchasing sharp weapons for the act.
Anwarul arrived in Kolkata at the Darshan border, staying the first night at his friend Gopal's home. The following day, the murderers baited him to their apartment in Sanjiba Garden.
There, on May 13th, Anwarul was ambushed by Aman and his associates – Faisal, Mustafiz, Siam, and Jihad. They demanded that Anwarul return money owed to Shahin. In the ensuing scuffle, they murdered Anwarul by suffocating him with a pillow. Aman then informed Shahin of the successful assassination.
According to intelligence acquired from Aman, the conspirators dismembered Anwarul's body to dispose of it easily, purchasing two large trolley bags and polythene from a nearby mall for this purpose.
The body parts, stored in polythene bags within the trolley, were temporarily kept in the flat. Meanwhile, the murderers cleaned any blood stains in the flat using bleaching powder brought in from outside.
Kolkata police have CCTV footage of the apartment and surrounding buildings, showing Aman and his accomplices carrying the trolley bags and Anwarul's shoes outside. Further footage reveals Shahin's female friend bringing in the polythene bags and bleaching powder.
Following the murder, on Aman's command, two accomplices took Anwarul's phones in different directions to mislead investigators. Faisal and Mustafiz then returned to Bangladesh on May 17th.
Fifty Million Taka Contract for the Murder
Aman alleges that Akhtaruzzaman Shahin was willing to pay up to fifty million taka for Anwarul's assassination. He had already advanced some funds to the culprits, intending to pay the remainder after the murder. After the murder, Aman returned to Dhaka, meeting Shahin there. Officials report that Aman was hiding at his sister's home in Mohammadpur, where he was subsequently arrested.
Main Suspect Shahin Flees to America
Following the murder plot, Shahin returned to Dhaka on May 10th. As news of Anwarul's disappearance made national headlines, he traveled from India to Nepal on May 18th, proceeding from Nepal to Dubai on the 21st, and then flew from Dubai to the United States on May 22nd.
Gold Smuggling Links to Murder
Officials claim that gold smuggling money disputes are behind Anwarul's murder. Akhtaruzzaman Shahin is known as a gold smuggler, and allegations of Anwarul's involvement in gold smuggling have also surfaced.
Notably, Anwarul has been elected MP for Jhenaidah-4 with the Awami League ticket three times consecutively in 2014, 2018, and 2024.
Bangladeshi MP Visited Kolkata on May 12th
The Bangladeshi MP arrived in Kolkata on May 12th for medical treatment. He was staying at a friend's house in Kolkata, and left the afternoon of May 13th, stating he had an appointment with his doctor and would return for dinner. It was six days later that Biswas filed a missing person complaint with the police on May 18th.
