Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Akash Mandal alias Irfan in connection with the seven murders in the much-discussed MV Al-Bakhera vessel. He was arrested from Chitalmari area of Bagerhat.
RAB-11 of Cumilla confirmed the matter today (December 25) via sms.
Earlier on December 23, seven bodies and one injured were recovered from a vessel carrying fertilizer in the Meghna River at Haimchar in Chandpur.
The deceased are Master Golam Kibria, greaser Sajibul Islam, lashkar Majedul Islam, Sheikh Sabuj, Aminur Munshi, engine driver Salahuddin and cook Rana Kazi.
The critically injured lone survivor, identified as Jewel, 28. He could not give the details of the robbery team as he was unable to speak due to his injuries. However, Jewel wrote that there were nine people with them on the ship. Irfan is the name of the number nine person. He was missing since the incident.
Mahbub Morshed, the owner of the cargo ship named MV Al Bakhera, filed a case against unknown persons in the Haimchar police station of the district on December 24. Total nine people, including the master of the other ship MV Mugni have been made witnesses.