Staff Correspondent:

A man identified as a notorious drug dealer was hacked to death in the early hours of Tuesday in what police suspect to be deadly fallout of gang rivalry in Dhaka’s Pallabi area.

The deceased was identified as Rakibul Hasan Sani, widely known by his alias ‘Paper Sani’, aged 29.

Law enforcement officials and local sources suggest that the killing stems from long-standing turf wars involving rival drug syndicates.

According to Pallabi Police, the incident took place between approximately 4:30am and 5:00am in Line-03, Block-B, of Mirpur Section-11, under the jurisdiction of Pallabi Police Station.

Police said Sani, an alleged criminal with a reputation in the local drug scene, was attacked and slaughtered by a group of assailants who promptly fled after carrying out the brutal act.

Initial reports point to the involvement of several known criminals and rival drug operatives from the area.

Among those suspected are individuals identified as Langra Rubel, Tan Akash, Jinda and Gal Kata Rabbi—all said to be actively engaged in illicit activities.

Following a tip-off, police recovered Sani’s body at around 7:00am and sent it to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) later visited the scene as part of the investigation, and legal proceedings are currently underway.

Confirming the incident, officer-in-charge of Pallabi Police Station, Shahidul Islam, told the media that the victim’s family is in the process of filing a formal complaint.

Sources within the community allege the murder was driven by a conflict over control of the local drug distribution network, a scenario that has become increasingly common in areas plagued by narcotics and organised crime.

The killing has spread fear and unrest among residents of Millat Camp, where the incident occurred.

Locals expressed concern over the prevailing law and order situation, fearing reprisals or further violence in the wake of the attack.