Death row convict in Rajbari murder case arrested while planning another contract killing

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested a fugitive death-row convict in the 2014 murder of Saiful Islam Ripon Mondol in Rajbari.

Jamal Pattanadar, 45, was arrested from the Bhabanipur area of Narail Sadar upazila around 5:20pm yesterday (30 August) when he was preparing to carry out another contract killing, RAB said at a press briefing in Faridpur today (31 August).

A team from RAB-10’s Faridpur camp, with assistance from RAB-6, conducted the operation based on a tip-off, said Major Farhan Mahmud Moktadar, company commander of the Faridpur RAB-10 camp.

RAB recovered some cash and a mobile phone from Jamal.

According to RAB, Ripon Mondol was shot dead in the Daulatdia area under Goalanda Ghat Police Station in Rajbari on 6 September 2014. A murder case was subsequently filed with the police station.

Following the trial, the Rajbari District and Sessions Judge’s Court sentenced Jamal to death and fined him Tk50,000 on 6 August 2023.

Jamal fled to India after the verdict to evade the death sentence, RAB said. He was arrested by the Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Crime Branch in the Kamathipura area of South Mumbai on 10 August 2025.

After spending several months in an Indian jail, he was released on bail, according to RAB. The agency said he entered Bangladesh about two months ago through a pushback.

RAB began monitoring Jamal after his return. Citing local and intelligence sources, the elite force claimed that Jamal was preparing to become involved in another contract killing and planned to flee to India after carrying out the murder.

RAB later traced his location using information technology and arrested him in Bhabanipur, the agency said.

Jamal is also an accused in two arms cases, two drug cases, a case filed over preparation for robbery and an extortion case, according to RAB.

He was handed over to the relevant police station following his arrest.