Several attempts were made to assassinate Bashundhara Group Managing Director (MD) and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir, group officials said.
In the latest attempt, a youth tried to shot Anvir dead during the Jummah prayers on Friday, they officials said.
Vatara police on Friday arrested the youth -- Saiful Islam Saad, 23 -- hailing from Patiya upazila in Chattogram from Shautul Quran Madrasa and Orphanage located in Bashundhara residential area.
Vatara police station’s sub-inspector Hasan Masud, also investigation officer (IO) of the case, produced the suspect before the court with five days remand petition for interrogation and the court has fixed Sunday for hearing the plea.
Bashundhara officials said the arrestee disclosed during preliminary interrogation that as part of a blueprint designed by an influential politician in Chattogram and his son, he tried shot dead Anvir during the Jummah prayers.
Earlier, the gang also planned to kill Anvir mixing poison with milk and stabbing him, they said.
Saad also said the son of the politician had asked him to shoot Anvir directly during Jummah prayers and flee from the mosque by a car which will be kept outside.
Quoting Saad an officer of Vatara police said he tried to kill Anvir several times and finally disguised himself as a madrasa student after the failed the attempts.
He got admitted to Shautul Quran Madrasah and Orphanage in Bashundhara residential area as students from the madrasa go to Bashundhara MD’s house every day to recite the holy Qur’an.
Madrasa principal Mufti Misbah Uddin Sagir said Saad’s movements had been suspicious for few days prompting him to keep a close watch on the student’s movements. “After it became clear that Saad had come here with a mission to assassinate the Bashundhara group MD, I informed the security officials and staff of Bashundhara residential area,” he said.
Meanwhile, people from different walks of life took to the streets in various parts of the country on Saturday to protest against attempts to kill Anvir.
According to reports reaching the news desk from different districts, people spontaneously joined protest processions and human chains and demanded arrest and trial of the masterminds of the murder plot.
Speakers at the events said Anvir is making contributions not only to the country’s economy but has also secured his own place in the international arena.
In Khulna, Mofidul Islam Tutul, director of Khulna Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), while speaking at a human chain, termed the attempt heinous and demanded that exemplary punishment be meted out to the culprits.
Former KCCI President SM Nazrul Islam said a vested quarter tried to kill Anvir on several occasions. “Arrested Saad is mere a member of the big gang, which must be unearthed and punished.”
In Narsingdi, people under the banner of ‘Sacheton Nagorik Samaj’ (Platform of conscious citizens) held a human chain in protest against the attempt on the life of the Bashundhara Group Managing Director.
Several hundred people took part in the human chain held at Hemendra Saha crossing at noon.
In Tangail, a human chain was formed protesting the assassination attempt on the Bashundhara Group Managing Director.
'Sacheton Nagorik Samaj' organised the human chain in front of Bhuapur upazila parishad complex at noon.
Spekers at the event demanded immediate arrest of and exemplary punishment for those who are the masterminds and instigators of the heinous act.