Police say Jobayed murder premeditated; case filed against 8

A case has been filed against Mahir Rahman, Shabnam Barsha, Fardin Ahmed Aylan, and five unidentified individuals for the murder of Md Jobayed Hossen, a Jagannath University student.

According to police, Jobayed was killed in a premeditated attack allegedly orchestrated by Barsha, whom he tutored, and her long-time boyfriend Mahir Rahman.

Jobayed's brother, Enayet Hossain Saikat, filed the case with Bangshal Police Station this afternoon, naming three identified and five unidentified individuals.

At a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre, Additional Commissioner of DMP's Crime and Operations Department SN Nazrul Islam said, "The motive was a love triangle. The duo had begun planning the murder on September 25."

On the day of the incident, Mahir arrived at the scene with Fardin. They had reportedly purchased two new switchblades for the killing. Mahir then stabbed Jobayed multiple times at Barsha's instruction, the additional commissioner said.

"It was a planned murder by Barsha and Mahir. They had been in a relationship for nine years. But at one point, Barsha grew emotionally attached to Jobayed and rejected Mahir, telling him she liked Jobayed instead," he added.

"At one stage, Barsha told Mahir she no longer liked Jobayed. Afterwards, the couple decided to eliminate him from their lives," he said.

On Sunday afternoon, Jobayed went to Barsha's residence in Armanitola for private tuition. Mahir and a friend were reportedly waiting nearby. Mahir confronted Jobayed, asking him to stay away from Barsha. Apparently, Jobayed refused, saying Barsha loved him. The argument turned violent when Mahir suddenly stabbed Jobayed in the neck, the official said.

Critically injured, Jobayed ran upstairs to the second floor and knocked on several doors, but no one let him in. He then reached the third floor, where he met Barsha and pleaded for help.

According to police, Barsha told him, "If you don't leave my life, I'll never get Mahir."

Police said Barsha had initially denied any involvement during interrogation. However, when questioned in front of Mahir, both confessed. Four suspects, including Barsha, are now in police custody.

Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam reiterated that the motive centred around a love triangle.

"Barsha couldn't decide whom to choose between Mahir and Jobayed. Eventually, she chose Mahir and planned to remove Jobayed from their lives," he said.

Police said no family involvement has been found so far, though the investigation continues.

A statistics student (2019–20 session) at Jagannath University, Jobayed was president of the Cumilla District Students' Welfare Association and a member of the convening committee of JnU Chhatra Dal. He had been tutoring Barsha in physics, chemistry, and biology for the past year at her Armanitola residence.

He was stabbed to death around 4:45pm on Sunday in the stairwell while heading to the third-floor flat. Blood stains were found from the ground floor up to the third-floor landing, where his body was discovered face down.

Soon after the incident, JnU students blocked Tati Bazar intersection and staged protests outside Bangshal Police Station, demanding swift arrests. Barsha was taken into custody around 11:00pm that evening from her residence under police escort.

Jobayed was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Cumilla yesterday.