TikTokers Turn Violent: Photographer Killed in Planned Robbery
A group of TikTok content creators brutally murdered photographer Nurul Islam in a premeditated attack last Friday in the capital’s Jafrabad area, snatching his DSLR camera. The police have arrested ten suspects involved in the killing.
The arrested individuals are Naeem Ahmed (20), Shaheen Akand alias Shahinul (20), Shaheen Chowkidar (22), Rahim Sarkar (19), Nayon Ahmed (19), Ridoy Madbor (18), Abdur Razzak alias Raja (19), Anwar Hossain (19), Shahidul Islam (20), and Md. Arman (18). Based on their confessions, police recovered the weapons used in the murder — including machetes and knives — along with two stolen DSLR cameras.
They were apprehended on Tuesday, May 20, from different areas of Dhaka and Mymensingh. The information was disclosed by Deputy Police Commissioner (DC) of DMP’s Ramna Division, Masud Alam, during a press conference held on Wednesday, May 21.
DC Masud Alam said Nurul Islam (26), a resident of AGB Colony in Motijheel, was a professional photographer. “On May 15, the perpetrators lured him with a wedding photography assignment, even sending a BDT 500 advance to gain his trust,” he said. The next day, May 16, Nurul and his assistant Imon were picked up from the Shankar bus stand in Dhanmondi in an auto-rickshaw and taken near a school in the Jafrabad Pulpar area. Around 8:00 p.m., as they reached the location, 10–12 armed assailants ambushed them.
Startled by the sudden attack, Imon jumped off the rickshaw and escaped, while Nurul was struck multiple times on the head, neck, and arms with sharp weapons. The attackers fled with his camera and bag as locals approached upon hearing Nurul's cries. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Nurul’s brother, Osman Gani, filed a murder case at the Hazaribagh Police Station.
With the help of digital forensics and CCTV footage analysis, police conducted coordinated raids in Rayerbazar, Shankar, Ashulia, Dobaura, and Tarakanda (in Mymensingh), leading to the arrest of the suspects on Tuesday.
DC Masud explained, “The arrestees were part of a TikTok group. They believed mobile videos lacked good resolution and therefore plotted to snatch a DSLR camera. They found the victim’s number on Facebook and contacted him.” During the attack, when Nurul resisted handing over his camera, they stabbed him repeatedly and took it by force.
He confirmed that legal proceedings are underway against the arrested individuals.
