The West Bengal Police have unearthed CCTV footage potentially linked to the disappearance and alleged brutal killing of Bangladesh lawmaker, Anwarul Azim Anar. The footage, recovered near Kolkata, depicts two individuals carrying a green trolley bag and plastic packets, though details regarding the timing and location remain unclear. Anar, a Member of Parliament for the Awami League, has been missing, with fears mounting that his body has been dismembered and disposed of.
Authorities from West Bengal’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are pursuing leads suggesting that Anar was lured into a New Town apartment and subsequently murdered, possibly by contract killers. Speculation deepened with reports implicating a woman named Shilasti Rahman, allegedly close to the mastermind of the crime. Rahman has reportedly been detained by police in Dhaka.
In a significant development, the arrest of 24-year-old Jihad Hawladar, a Bangladeshi national, in the North 24-Paraganas district has brought a potential breakthrough. Hawladar, suspected of skinning Anar’s body, has purportedly confessed to the killing, implicating four others. Across the border, Bangladesh authorities have made three additional arrests. Despite these developments, the motive behind the alleged murder remains undisclosed.
Initial investigations have unveiled connections between the victim’s close friend, Akhtaruzzaman Shahin, a US citizen, and the crime. Shahin allegedly facilitated a substantial payment to those involved, raising questions about his involvement. Shilasti Rahman’s association with Shahin further fuels speculation surrounding the case.
Suspected hitman Hawladar, described as a butcher by profession, had been in Kolkata for two months prior to Anar’s arrival. The Bangladeshi lawmaker, seeking medical treatment, arrived in West Bengal on May 12, initially residing with a friend in the Baranagar area before his disappearance following a visit to a New Town apartment. An official statement from Bangladesh, as reported by The Daily Star, suggests that Anar may have fallen victim to a honey trap orchestrated by a woman associated with both the victim and his friend. The investigation points to Anar being lured to the New Town flat before meeting his tragic fate.
