Murder of Delwoar Hossain

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Delwoar Hossain, a 50-year-old Bangladeshi engineer, was murdered on May 11, 2020, in Dhaka. He worked as the executive engineer for Gazipur City Corporation and was known for his hard work and anti-corruption efforts. He studied civil engineering at BUET, graduating in 1993, and was married with three sons.

Delwoar’s family and coworkers say his murder was connected to his stance against corruption and his tough stance against improper deals. Some sources also say his refusal to sign inflated bills and pushy contractors angered powerful interests. Police have said the killing happened because of a feud between coworkers, but his family rejects that explanation.

On the day of the murder, Delwoar was picked up from his Mirpur home by a different driver using a separate government vehicle. His body was found in Diabari Beribadh, Turag area, Dhaka, around 3 p.m. with head injuries and signs of suffocation. He was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where his family later identified him. Police recovered his mobile from a lake near the scene and found the microbus used in the killing in Faridpur.

Police investigation pointed to Anisur Rahman Selim, a Gazipur colleague, as involved in the crime. Selim allegedly hired killer Shahin Howlader and driver Habib Mia to help. CCTV footage helped police identify Selim and connect him to the crime. According to police, Selim sat beside Delwoar in the microbus, while Shahin boarded earlier and sat in the back. The killers allegedly strangled Delwoar with a nylon rope after the microbus started moving and then dumped his body in Uttara.

Delwoar was buried in his village home in Kazirhat, Noakhali. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and some officials have noted possible involvement of others in corruption and contract work.

The murder sparked protests across the country demanding justice. Professional groups like the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) called for a thorough, fair investigation. BUET students, alumni, and engineers also joined in demanding accountability.

Delwoar’s family has said they believe influential people may be involved, and they say some officials contacted them, urging them not to push for further investigation.