RAB apprehends suspect in Meghna cargo vessel massacre

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has apprehended a suspect in the murder of seven individuals aboard the cargo vessel MV Al Bakhera, which was transporting fertilizer on the Meghna River in Chandpur’s Haimchar upazila. RAB-11 confirmed on Wednesday that Akash Mondol, also known as Irfan, was arrested in Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat. The force announced plans to disclose further details about the case during a press briefing at noon.

The ship's owner, Mahabub Morshed, lodged a complaint with Haimchar police station on Tuesday night, accusing "unidentified robbers" of the murders. Among the suspects, Irfan was specifically identified as the ninth person aboard, based on handwritten information from the injured crew member Jewel. Jewel also signaled, through gestures, that he could recognize the assailants if confronted with them.

The case documents reveal that seven individuals were killed, and one was injured during the attack. The victims included master Golam Kibria, greaser Sajibul Islam, lascar Majedul Islam, Sheikh Sabuj, Aminur Munshi, engine driver Salauddin, and cook Rana Kazi. The injured crew member, Jewel, 28, is a sukani from Faridpur Sadar upazila and is currently undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital under security.

Police inspecting the vessel recovered several items, including a bloodstained Chinese axe, a folding knife, two smartphones, two feature phones, a wallet, Tk8,000 in cash, a notebook, a seal, a headphone, and leftover food items, as mentioned in the case report.

Deputy Commissioner Mohsin Uddin and River Police Superintendent Syed Moshfiqur Rahman handed over the bodies of the victims to their families on Tuesday afternoon. The district administration provided Tk20,000 to each family in financial aid, and the River Police contributed Tk10,000 in cash to each family.

The River Police reported the discovery of five bodies aboard MV Al Bakhera on Monday afternoon. Two more victims succumbed to their injuries later that day at Chandpur General Hospital after being rushed there in critical condition.